Rationally designed Ta3N5/ZnO Core-shell nanofibers for significantly boosts photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

The rational design of novel and efficient heterojunction photocatalysts is recognized as one of the significant challenges for achieving highly efficient solar-to-chemical energy conversion. Herein, we report a novel Ta3N5/ZnO core–shell nanofibers heterojunction photocatalyst for boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution activity through the combining of electrospinning and ALD process. Based on the combined strategies of nanostructure engineering and heterojunction, the enhanced photocatalytic activity of Ta3N5/ZnO hybrid sample is attributed to the synergistic effects of increased reaction sites and improved charge transfer. The optimized Ta3N5/ZnO-150 core–shell nanofibers heterojunction photocatalyst exhibited the highest photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of 1193.75 μmol g−1 h−1, which is about 7 times higher than the bare Ta3N5 nanofibers, and also superior to the most of Ta3N5-based photocatalysts ever reported.