Abstract
The same copper phosphate catalysts were synthesized by obtaining the methods involving solid state as well as liquid state reactions in this work. And then the optimised p-n hybrid junction photocatalysts have been synthesized following the same solid/liquid reaction pathways. The synthesized copper phosphate photocatalyst has unique rod, flower, caramel-treat-like morphology. The Mott-Schottky behavior is in accordance with the expected behavior of n-type semiconductor and the carrier concentration was calculated using the M-S analysis for the photocatalyst. And for the p-n hybrid junction of 8RGO-Cu3(PO4)2-PA (PA abbreviated for photoassisted synthesis method), 8RGO-Cu3(PO4)2-EG(EG abbreviated for Ethylene Glycol based synthesis method), 8RGO-Cu3(PO4)2-PEG (PEG abbreviated for Poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(propylene glycol)-block-poly(ethylene glycol based synthesis method)the amount of H2 synthesized was 7500, 6500 and 4500 µmol/h/g, respectively. The excited electrons resulting after the irradiation of visible light on the CB of p-type reduced graphene oxide (RGO) migrate easily to n-type Cu3(PO4)2via. the p-n junction interfaces and hence great charge carrier separation was achieved.
Highlights
When coming to the reaction of natural photosynthesis, the role of terminal phosphate bond containing compound directly comes into the mind
We bequest a progression of inorganic copper phosphate micrometer-scale structures such as rod, brick, flowers, In chase of efficient solar-to-fuel conversion systems based on natural photosynthesis concept of using a phosphate catalyst
The rod shaped photocatalysts showed higher activity as compared to others as expected due to their high aspect ratio, large specific surface area, and excellent electronic or ionic charge transport than other two morphologies. By this a successful p-n hybrid junction was established by using p-type RGO for the first time
Summary
When coming to the reaction of natural photosynthesis, the role of terminal phosphate bond containing compound directly comes into the mind These high energy terminal phosphates drive the chemical reactions in the synthesis of other biomolecules during the photosynthesis reaction steps. Many research was dedicated on the advantages of the incorporation of graphene oxide/ reduced graphene oxide (GO/RGO) sheets in the various semiconductors matrix but the role of www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Wu et al, has designed p-n heterojunction by depositing p-type MoS2 nano-platelets on the n-type nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (n-rGO) nanosheets for hydrogen generation[24]. RGO is used as a p-type coupling semiconductor to n-type copper phosphate for the first time to achieve high visible light response. We bequest a progression of inorganic copper phosphate micrometer-scale structures such as rod, brick, flowers, In chase of efficient solar-to-fuel conversion systems based on natural photosynthesis concept of using a phosphate catalyst
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