Abstract
For the transformation of energy conversion and photocatalytic decomposition, photocatalyst-based artificial photosynthesis for solar-to green fuels and environmental treatment has aroused great attention. Herein, a novel ternary heterojunction based on constructing an interaction between 2D-graphitic carbon nitride (CN), 3D-strontium titanate (STO) and Pt nanoparticles (NPs) (2D/3D CN/STO@Pt) is designed for the first time to greatly promote photocatalytic water cracking hydrogen (H2) evolution in an alkalescent environment, such as triethanolamine (TEO) as well as integrating with Rhodamin B (RhB) decomposition. Under optimized conditions, the H2 productivity over 3D/2D CN/STO@Pt-3 heterostructures (10,005 μmol h−1 g−1) with an apparent quantum yield of H2 production approaching 47.5% is found to be ∼29.7, 8.5, 1.1, and 1.5-fold as much as that in the CN, CN/STO, CN/STO@Pt-1, and CN/STO@Pt-5 heterojunctions, respectively. An up to 2.5-fold enhancement in the photocatalytic RhB decomposition rate, obtaining 90% within 60 min under visible-light-driven is observed for 3D/2D CN/STO@Pt-3 heterostructures, surpassing that of other samples. The CN/STO@Pt-3 sample shows the highest degradation rate of 3.5 min−1, which is 1.8, 2.8, 4.27 and 4.9 -time higher than that of the CN/STO@Pt-1, CN/STO@Pt-5, CN, and STO samples, respectively. The improved photocatalytic behavior of the heterogeneous structures could be ascribed to i) the type II-heterojunction between 2D CN and 3D STO; and ii) the creation of the Schottky contacts between semiconductors and Pt NPs. The configuration of the type-II heterojunction formed by the two semiconductors of 2D g-C3N4 and 3D STO contributes to improved light absorption ability, and rapid separation and transfer of photoinduced charges. At the same time, the close junction of Pt establishes the Schottky barrier to facilitate efficient electron transfer in the ternary nanostructures, impeding the quick recombination of photoexcited charge carriers, and offering abundant reactive sites, contributing multiple electron pathways for the photoreaction strategy. Increased photocurrent density from the LSV measurement and a declined in PL intensity confirmed the enhanced interfacial charge separation in the tertiary photocatalyst. Furthermore, the CN/STO@Pt-3 ternary heterostructure presents outstanding photocatalytic performance after five cycles, indicating good stability and reusability. This work gives a valuable modification pathway for the establishing multi-channel charge carrier transport for energy conversion and environmental remediation processes.
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