A strategy to construct (reduced graphene oxide, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 step-scheme photocatalyst for visible-light water splitting

• Published in: Catalysis communications Vol. 157; p. 106327
• Main Authors: Liu, Yuxiang, Xu, Xuejun, Li, Ang, Si, Zhichun, Wu, Xiaodong, Ran, Rui, Weng, Duan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: (rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4; Photocatalytic water splitting; S-scheme heterojunction; (rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4; Photocatalytic water splitting; S-scheme heterojunction
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2021.106327

The interface architecture plays important role in the charge transfer and separation of S-scheme photocatalysis. Herein, we propose a strategy to synthesize (reduced graphene oxide, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 S-scheme heterojunctions by thermal treatment of MIL-101(Fe) and melamine. (rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 presents a high oxygen evolution rate (OER) of 3.85 mmol·g−1·h−1 under visible irradiation, and overall water splitting activity with the hydrogen evolution (HER) and OER rates of 23.3 and 12 μmol·g−1·h−1, respectively. The band alignments by different Fermi levels of C3N4 and (rGO, γ-Fe2O3) result in internal electric field, which significantly enhances the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes. [Display omitted] •The (rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 S-scheme junctions are synthetized by thermal treatment.•(rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 presents O2 evolution rate of 3.85 mmol·g−1·h−1.•(rGO, γ-Fe2O3)/C3N4 is active for overall water splitting.