Interfacial construction of porphyrin nanorods synergistically regulated by graphene and copper anchored onto carbon nitride for boosted photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Abstract

By means of the synergistic effect of reduced graphene oxide (rGo) and copper particles implanted on the graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4), 5,10,15,20-tetraalkyl (4-carboxybenzene) porphyrin nanorods (TCPP NRS) were in-situ constructed on the CNG-Cu without adding any surfactants. Subsequently, a novel nanocomposite with special structure was obtained, and a close interface between TCPP NRS and g-C3N4/rGo (CNG) was clearly displayed in the obtained CNG-Cu-TCPP NRS nanocomposite. By solid UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectra and XRD, it was explained that there existed H-aggregate and two-dimensional stacking in TCPP NRS. The TCPP NRS formed by the synergistic interaction of rGo and Cu played significant roles in enhancing the light absorption and promoting the electron transfer between TCPP and CNG-Cu in the composite system. Importantly, under the same conditions, H2 release of the CNG-Cu-TCPP NRS nanocomposite was 3.74 times and 2.02 times higher than those of the CNG-TCPP and the CNG-Cu, respectively, due to the close interfacial linking and efficient light absorption. It will pave a way in the interfacial regulation and assembly of photocatalysis nanohybrids.