Abstract
A series of ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 photocatalysts were synthetized by impregnation of g-C3N4 with Zn(NO3)2·6H2O, and Fe(NO3)2·9H2O followed by calcination. The morphology, chemical composition, and structure of the resulted materials were carefully analyzed by various characterization techniques. The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composites was evaluated based on the H2 evolution from water splitting reaction. The results showed that the ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite can effectively produce more H2 than pure g-C3N4 when irradiated under visible-light. H2 production rate over 3-ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite was of 25 μmol·h−1, which is 4 times higher than that obtained in the presence of pure g-C3N4, clearly showing a significant improvement of the photocatalytic activity of the prepared nanocomposite. This result was attributed to the formation of a heterojunction between g-C3N4 and ZnO/Fe2O3, which delayed the recombination of holes-electrons pairs and resulted in a remarkable increase in photocatalytic performance.
Highlights
The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composites was evaluated based on the H2 evolution from water splitting reaction
The results of elemental analysis (EA) of bare g-C3N4 and 3-ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite are displayed in Table S1.The nitrogen and carbon contents were measured by elemental analysis, where as zinc and iron were analyzed by ICP-MS
ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by impregnation followed by calcination and their photocatalytic performance was evaluated in H2 production from water splitting
Summary
The photocatalytic performance of ZnO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 composites was evaluated based on the H2 evolution from water splitting reaction. The resulted sample was analyzed in relation to its composition, structure and morphology, whereas the photocatalytic activity was estimated based on the ability to produce H2 from the water splitting reaction under visible-light irradiation.
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