MoB2 modified g-C3N4: A Schottky junction with enhanced interfacial redox activity and charge separation for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution

Abstract

The g-C3N4 material, which exhibits a sensitivity to visible light and has a band position that is appropriate for the photoreduction of H2, has garnered significant interest. However, the ability of g-C3N4 to use light for photocatalysis is restricted due to its insufficient capacity to absorb light and its poor reaction kinetics on the surface. The researchers opted for the metallic MoB2 to create a Schottky junction coupled with g-C3N4. The incorporation of MoB2 nanoparticles onto g-C3N4 enhances its light absorption capacity and promotes the efficient separation and transfer of photogenerated charge. In addition, MoB2 nanoparticles served as active sites to accelerate H2 evolution. Compared to g-C3N4, the MoB2@g-C3N4 composite exhibited a nearly 51-fold increase in H2 production rate, indicating a significant improvement in photocatalytic activity. The present investigation demonstrated the potential of metallic MoB2 as a modified material during a photocatalytic H2 evolution reaction.