Abstract
The development of a facile method for the synthesis of GaN:ZnO solid solution, an attractive material with a wurtzite-type structure, is vital to enhance its photocatalytic activity toward H2 evolution. Herein, GaN:ZnO solid solution nanorods with diameters of around 180 nm were fabricated by combining the electro-spun method with a sequentially calcinating process. Photocatalytic water-splitting activities of the as-obtained samples loaded with Rh2−yCryO3 co-catalyst were estimated by H2 evolution under visible-light irradiation. The as-prepared GaN:ZnO nanorods at a nitridation temperature of 850 °C showed the optimal performance. Careful characterization of the GaN:ZnO solid solution nanorods indicated that the nitridation temperature is an important parameter affecting the photocatalytic performance, which is related to the specific surface area and the absorbable visible-light wavelength range. Finally, the mechanism of the GaN:ZnO solid solution nanorods was also investigated. The proposed synthesis strategy paves a new way to realize excellent activity and recyclability of GaN:ZnO solid solution nanorod photocatalysts for hydrogen generation.
Highlights
In recent years, the modern energy crisis has been one of the major problems that has concerned human beings in the 21st century
The samples of S750, S850, and S950 exhibited diffraction peaks that were basically attributed to GaN:ZnO solid solution with a wurtzite structure [21]
The intensity of the peaks corresponding to the GaN:ZnO solid solution in S750 were weaker than that of S850 and S950, which means the higher nitridation temperature induced a higher crystallinity
Summary
The modern energy crisis has been one of the major problems that has concerned human beings in the 21st century. A recent flourish of studies have been inspired to develop environmental-friendly and renewable fuels [1]. The use of photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production is an attractive strategy in the field of energy conversion with abundant solar energy, since the pioneering report of photoelectrochemical water splitting was published in 1972 [2]. It has been demonstrated that most of these photocatalysts with wide band gaps are only active under UV irradiation. It is vital to develop a highly active photocatalyst with a sufficiently narrower bandgap for efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen production
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