Bifunctional G-CN/carbon Nanotubes/WO Ternary Nanohybrids for Photocatalytic Energy and Environmental Applications

Ternary nanohybrids based on mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) were synthesized and presented for developing stable and efficient Hydrogen (H) production system. Based on photocatalytic activity, optimization was performed in three different stages to develop carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and WO loaded g-CN (CWG-3). Initially, the effect of exfoliation was investigated, and a maximum specific surface area of 100.77 m/g was achieved. 2D-2D interface between WO and g-CN was targeted and achieved, to construct a highly efficient direct Z-scheme heterojunction. Optimized binary composite holds the enhanced activity of about 2.6 folds of H generation rates than the thermally exfoliated g-CN. Further, CNT loading towards binary composite in an optimized weight ratio enhances the activity by 6.86 folds than the pristine g-CN. Notably, optimized ternary nanohybrid generates 15,918 μmol h. g of molecular H, under natural solar light irradiation with 5 vol% TEOA as a sacrificial agent. Constructive enhancements deliver remarkable H production and dye degradation activities. Results evident that, the same system can be useful for pilot-scale energy generation and other photocatalytic applications as well.