Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production utilizing few-layered 1T-WS2/g-C3N4 heterostructures prepared with one-step calcination route

Abstract

Two-dimensional sulfide is considered as one of the best alternative for noble metal cocatalyst, whereas few-layered 1T WS2 structure is very helpful to promote the photocatalytical activity for hydrogen generation. Herein, few-layered 1T-WS2/g-C3N4 composites have been prepared via a facile one-step calcination route and used as a noble metal-free catalyst for H2 evolution. The results showed that the optimized 1T-WS2/g-C3N4 has a H2 evolution rate of 10.08 mmol∙g−1 h−1, which is 180 and 2.44 times larger than that of pure pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4 (Pt), respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity can be explained as the optimized 1T-WS2/g-C3N4 sample has an increased light absorption (from visible to infrared region), better electrical conductivity and high density of active sites. The studies will be helpful for constructing high efficient heterostructured catalysts by loading 1T phase metal dichalcogenides 2D of material onto a two-dimensional material surface.