g‐C3N4‐Modified Water‐Crystallized Mesoporous SnO2 for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Properties

• Published in: Particle & particle systems characterization Vol. 35; no. 10
• Main Authors: Bian, Haidong, Wang, Aiwu, Li, Zebiao, Li, Zhe, Diao, Yingxue, Lu, Jian, Li, Yang Yang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2018
• Subjects: anodization; Carbon nitride; Crystallization; Electrodes; Electromagnetic absorption; Electrophoresis; graphitic carbon nitride nanodots; Light irradiation; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric emission; photoelectrochemical electrodes; Silver chloride; SnO2; Soaking; Tin dioxide
• ISSN: 0934-0866; 1521-4117
• DOI: 10.1002/ppsc.201800155

A novel type of high‐performance photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode is conveniently fabricated. Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanodots are homogeneously deposited inside an amorphous host of mesoporous 1D SnO2 via pulsed electrophoresis, followed by extremely facile water‐soaking treatment to crystallize the amorphous SnO2. The g‐C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposite thus obtained readily serves as a PEC electrode that is able to extend the light absorption to the visible region, delivering a photocurrent density of 1.8 mA cm−2 at 0.2 V (vs Ag/AgCl) under simulated solar light irradiation, which is ≈1.5 times higher than that of pristine SnO2 host. The facile and mild electrophoresis/water‐soaking method reported here can be extended to fabricate other high performance photoelectrode systems from various anodic mesoporous materials and nanoparticles. g‐C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposites are conveniently fabricated via pulsed electrophoresis and water‐crystallization for enhanced photoelectrochemical performance.