Boosting visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of graphitic carbon nitride via enhancing it interfacial redox activity with cobalt/nitrogen doped tubular graphitic carbon

Abstract

Carbon based nanomaterials have attracted great attentions in the fields of electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. Here, we report our recent progress on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) by introducing carbon based electrocatalyst as co-catalyst. Cobalt/nitrogen doped graphitic carbon (Co-NG) composite with tubular structure was synthesized by cobalt catalyzed carbonization and graphitization of urea under thermal treatment. Co-NG with strong interaction of cobalt and nitrogen doped graphitic carbon has shown low overpotential for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction. It was thus used as co-catalyst for graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Beside enhanced light absorption and reduced recombination of Co-NG/g-C3N4 heterostructure composite, high interfacial redox reaction activity of Co-NG was found. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of Co-NG/g-C3N4 was thus effectively improved.