Au/TiO2–gC3N4 Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Production from Water under Visible Light Irradiation with Very Low Quantities of Sacrificial Agents |
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| Authors: | Clément Marchal Thomas Cottineau María Guadalupe Méndez‐Medrano Christophe Colbeau‐Justin Valérie Caps Valérie Keller |
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| Institution: | 1. ICPEES, Institute of Chemistry and Processes for Energy, Environment and Health, UMR 7515 CNRS/University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg cedex, France;2. Laboratoire de Chimie Physique, CNRS UMR 8000, Université Paris‐Sud, Orsay Cedex, France |
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| Abstract: | Here for the first time the design and optimization are presented of a three‐component Au/TiO2–gC3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst able to efficiently produce H2 from water using very low amounts of sacrificial agents and under visible light irradiation. This enhanced photocatalytic behavior compared to Au/TiO2 and Au/gC3N4 materials is the result of synergetic effects due to high quality assembly and interface between the three components. This optimized nanoscale assembly characterized by simultaneous favorable nanoheterojunction formation between g‐C3N4 and TiO2 semiconductors, as well as AuNPs/gC3N4 and AuNPs/TiO2 junctions, leads to enhanced visible light harvesting, charge separation, and H2 production. This composite photocatalyst yields a high H2 production (350 µmol?1 h?1 gcatalyst?1) under visible light irradiation with minimal amounts of sacrificial agent (≤1 vol%), corresponding to activities much higher than reported so far under comparable conditions. |
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| Keywords: | Au/TiO2– gC3N4 nanocomposites H2 production photocatalysis visible light activation |
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