Design of Cu-Cu2O/g-C3N4 nanocomponent photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation using water-soluble Erythrosin B dye sensitization

Abstract

Cu-Cu2O nanoparticles (NPs) decorated porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) (Cu-Cu2O/g-C3N4) photocatalysts were prepared. When investment of copper source materials in the experiment increased to 7wt%, the highest H2 evolution rate (400μmolg−1h−1) was obtained under visible light irradiation in triethanolamine solution. This is about triple of pure g-C3N4 (140μmolg−1h−1). Moreover, various amount of Erythrosin B dye was added into Cu-Cu2O/g-C3N4 photoreaction solution and a significant enhancement of H2 production rate was achieved. The highest H2 production rate was 5000μmolg−1h−1 with 5mg Erythrosin B in photoreaction system. Erythrosin B dye sensitized Cu-Cu2O/g-C3N4 presented stable photocatalytic H2 evolution ability and no noticeable degradation or change of photocatalyst were detected after six recycles. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of Erythrosin B dye sensitized Cu-Cu2O/g-C3N4 for the enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution is proposed.