Development of Sulfur-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Hydrogen Evolution Under Visible-Light Irradiation

Overview

Journal Nanomaterials (Basel)

Date 2023 Jan 8

PMID 36615972

Authors

Tamer M Khedr

Said M El-Sheikh

Maya Endo-Kimura

Kunlei Wang

Bunsho Ohtani

Ewa Kowalska

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Developing eco-friendly strategies to produce green fuel has attracted continuous and extensive attention. In this study, a novel gas-templating method was developed to prepare 2D porous S-doped g-CN photocatalyst through simultaneous pyrolysis of urea (main g-CN precursor) and ammonium sulfate (sulfur source and structure promoter). Different content of ammonium sulfate was examined to find the optimal synthesis conditions and to investigate the property-governed activity. The physicochemical properties of the obtained photocatalysts were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), specific surface area (BET) measurement, ultraviolet-visible light diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV/vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and reversed double-beam photo-acoustic spectroscopy (RDB-PAS). The as-prepared S-doped g-CN photocatalysts were applied for photocatalytic H evolution under vis irradiation. The condition-dependent activity was probed to achieve the best photocatalytic performance. It was demonstrated that ammonium sulfate played a crucial role to achieve concurrently 2D morphology, controlled nanostructure, and S-doping of g-CN in a one-pot process. The 2D nanoporous S-doped g-CN of crumpled lamellar-like structure with large specific surface area (73.8 m g) and improved electron-hole separation showed a remarkable H generation rate, which was almost one order in magnitude higher than that of pristine g-CN. It has been found that though all properties are crucial for the overall photocatalytic performance, efficient doping is probably a key factor for high photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the photocatalysts exhibit significant stability during recycling. Accordingly, a significant potential of S-doped g-CN has been revealed for practical use under natural solar radiation.

Citing Articles

Gels in Heterogeneous Photocatalysis: Past, Present, and Future.

Amalia F, Wang L, Bielan Z, Markowska-Szczupak A, Wei Z, Kowalska E Gels. 2024; 10(12).

PMID: 39727568 PMC: 11675333. DOI: 10.3390/gels10120810.

Bismuth Tungstate Nanoplates-Vis Responsive Photocatalyst for Water Oxidation.

Khedr T, El-Sheikh S, Kowalska E Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023; 13(17).

PMID: 37686946 PMC: 10490350. DOI: 10.3390/nano13172438.

Bifunctional Hot Water Vapor Template-Mediated Synthesis of Nanostructured Polymeric Carbon Nitride for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution.

Long B, He H, Yu Y, Cai W, Gu Q, Yang J Molecules. 2023; 28(12).

PMID: 37375417 PMC: 10302706. DOI: 10.3390/molecules28124862.

References

Van K, Huu H, Nguyen Thi V, Le Thi T, Truong D, Truong T . Facile construction of S-scheme SnO/g-CN photocatalyst for improved photoactivity. Chemosphere. 2021; 289:133120. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133120. View

Zhan X, Zhao Y, Sun Y, Lei C, Wang H, Shi H . Pyridazine doped g-CN with nitrogen defects and spongy structure for efficient tetracycline photodegradation and photocatalytic H evolution. Chemosphere. 2022; 307(Pt 4):136087. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136087. View

Ida S, Ishihara T . Recent Progress in Two-Dimensional Oxide Photocatalysts for Water Splitting. J Phys Chem Lett. 2015; 5(15):2533-42. DOI: 10.1021/jz5010957. View

Praus P, Smykalova A, Foniok K, Velisek P, Cvejn D, Zadny J . Post-Synthetic Derivatization of Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Methanesulfonyl Chloride: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalysis. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2020; 10(2). PMC: 7074974. DOI: 10.3390/nano10020193. View

Lin Y, Dizon G, Yamada K, Liu C, Venault A, Lin H . Sulfur-doped g-CN nanosheets for photocatalysis: Z-scheme water splitting and decreased biofouling. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2020; 567:202-212. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.02.017. View

Liu G, Niu P, Sun C, Smith S, Chen Z, Lu G . Unique electronic structure induced high photoreactivity of sulfur-doped graphitic C3N4. J Am Chem Soc. 2010; 132(33):11642-8. DOI: 10.1021/ja103798k. View

Gratzel M . Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature. 2001; 414(6861):338-44. DOI: 10.1038/35104607. View

Wei L, Zeng D, Liu J, Zheng H, Fujita T, Liao M . Composition-dependent activity of ZnCdSe solid solution coupled with NiP nanosheets for visible-light-driven photocatalytic H generation. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021; 608(Pt 3):3087-3097. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.11.032. View

Chuaicham C, Karthikeyan S, Pawar R, Xiong Y, Dabo I, Ohtani B . Energy-resolved distribution of electron traps for O/S-doped carbon nitrides by reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy and the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(vi). Chem Commun (Camb). 2020; 56(26):3793-3796. DOI: 10.1039/c9cc09988c. View

10.

Du F, Lai Z, Tang H, Wang H, Zhao C . Construction of dual Z-scheme BiWO/g-CN/black phosphorus quantum dots composites for effective bisphenol A degradation. J Environ Sci (China). 2022; 124:617-629. DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.10.027. View

11.

Yang P, Ou H, Fang Y, Wang X . A Facile Steam Reforming Strategy to Delaminate Layered Carbon Nitride Semiconductors for Photoredox Catalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2017; 56(14):3992-3996. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201700286. View

12.

Wang T, Zheng J, Cai J, Liu Q, Zhang X . Visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of dye and antibiotics by activated biochar composited with K doped g-CN: Effects, mechanisms, actual wastewater treatment and disinfection. Sci Total Environ. 2022; 839:155955. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155955. View

13.

Kisch H . On the problem of comparing rates or apparent quantum yields in heterogeneous photocatalysis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2010; 49(50):9588-9. DOI: 10.1002/anie.201002653. View

14.

Jourshabani M, Shariatinia Z, Badiei A . Controllable Synthesis of Mesoporous Sulfur-Doped Carbon Nitride Materials for Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation. Langmuir. 2017; 33(28):7062-7078. DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b01767. View

15.

Chuaicham C, Pawar R, Karthikeyan S, Ohtani B, Sasaki K . Fabrication and characterization of ternary sepiolite/g-CN/Pd composites for improvement of photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light irradiation. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2020; 577:397-405. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.05.064. View

16.

Fujishima A, Honda K . Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nature. 1972; 238(5358):37-8. DOI: 10.1038/238037a0. View

17.

Cao B, Wan S, Wang Y, Guo H, Ou M, Zhong Q . Highly-efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic H evolution integrated with microplastic degradation over MXene/ZnCdS photocatalyst. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2021; 605:311-319. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.07.113. View

18.

Yang J, Wang D, Han H, Li C . Roles of cocatalysts in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Acc Chem Res. 2013; 46(8):1900-9. DOI: 10.1021/ar300227e. View

19.

Lv H, Huang Y, Koodali R, Liu G, Zeng Y, Meng Q . Synthesis of Sulfur-Doped 2D Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Phenol and Hydrogen Evolution. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2020; 12(11):12656-12667. DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b19057. View

20.

Arumugam M, Tahir M, Praserthdam P . Effect of nonmetals (B, O, P, and S) doped with porous g-CN for improved electron transfer towards photocatalytic CO reduction with water into CH. Chemosphere. 2021; 286(Pt 2):131765. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131765. View