Application prospect of graphite felt with co-deposition of cuprous oxide and like-graphene graphite carbon nitride in photoelectrochemistry

Abstract

In this paper, the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilizer, a novel composite material Cu2O-g–C3N4–PVP-GF is formed by co-deposition of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) and graphene-like graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) on graphite felt (GF). Moreover, via different means, analysis results clarify the potential application of this material in the field of photoelectrochemistry. Herein, apparent physicochemical properties of materials were characterized by means of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscope (HRTEM), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), Raman and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), while photoelectric properties of ones were further analyzed through UV–visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis-DRS), Photoluminescence (PL), Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS), EIS and other means. Subsequently, the research focused on continuous-in-situ photoelectrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide in seawater environment by laboratory scale electrochemical system. It is worth mentioning that the optimal composite material produced has the stable hydrogen peroxide content of up to about 84 mg/L and about 99% current efficiency under the illumination of white LEDs, which is of great significance in engineering applications.