Synthesis of novel rare-earth cerium doped C3N4 nanocomposites for boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution

Abstract

It is very necessary to develop stable and cheap photocatalysts without precious metals, but they can significantly increase the photocatalytic activity. Herein, we designed and fabricated novel rare-earth cerium doped C3N4 (Ce-C3N4) for boosting photocatalytic H2 evolution. The chemical structure, morphology, photoelectrochemical and optical properties of the as-prepared Ce-C3N4 was tested through a range of characterization. The as-prepared 0.01Ce-C3N4 exhibited superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity (≈2.6 fold) than pristine C3N4. Its excellent photocatalytic activity result from efficient charge separation and an extended carrier lifetime. This work highlights the importance of rare earth element doping for devising of highly efficient and stable photocatalysts.