Pt quantum dots-coupled AgVO3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme photocatalyst for efficient sunlight-driven hydrogen production

Abstract

Hydrogen production is regarded as an ideal approach to settle the worldwide energy and environmental issues. Here, a plasmonic Pt quantum dots (QDs) coupled Z-scheme 1D/0D/2D AgVO3/Pt/CN heterojunction (AvPtCN) was prepared in this work, indicating remarkable solar-light-driven photocatalytic activity. The obtained composites were characterized using a variety of structural spectroscopic methods, displaying a porous surface with more reactive sites, and improved visible-light harvesting, favorable for hydrogen production. Meaningfully, the ternary composite of AvPtCN demonstrated a significantly higher photogenerated charge separation efficiency and a substantially lower onset potential for hydrogen production. Moreover, the plasmonic Pt quantum dots could provide additional electron transfer routes between two component-photocatalysts, leading to improved carrier separation efficiency and enhanced lifetime of photoinduced charges, in comparison with the pristine CN and AgVO3, along with binary PtCN and AvCN composite. Consequently, the AvPtCN heterojunction exhibited much enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production performance, up to 10,444 μmol/g/h. This work would be precious in developing novel Z-scheme photocatalysts and significant in meeting environmental needs.