Synthesis of Potassium-Modified Graphitic Carbon Nitride with High Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution

• Published in: ChemSusChem Vol. 7; no. 9; pp. 2654 - 2658
• Main Authors: Wu, Ming, Yan, Jun-Min, Tang, Xian-nian, Zhao, Ming, Jiang, Qing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01-09-2014; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Catalysis; Chemistry Techniques, Synthetic; electron microscopy; Graphite - chemistry; hydrogen; Hydrogen - chemistry; nanostructures; Nitriles - chemical synthesis; Photochemical Processes; photochemistry; Potassium; Potassium Chloride - chemistry; template synthesis; X-rays; electron microscopy; template synthesis; hydrogen; photochemistry; nanostructures
• ISSN: 1864-5631; 1864-564X
• DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201402180

Potassium‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (K‐g‐C3N4) nanosheets are synthesized by a facile KCl‐template method that holds the advantage of easy removal of residual template. A combination of XRD, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma analyses are utilized to characterize the obtained resultant K‐g‐C3N4 architectures, which are composed of nanosheets of variable thickness (<10 nm). Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution experiments under visible light irradiation showed that K‐g‐C3N4 nanosheets have high photocatalytic activities (up to about thirteen times higher than that of pure g‐C3N4) as well as good stability (no reduction in activity within 16 h); both features emanate from their unique structural characteristics. These results illustrate the viability of this methodology for the facile synthesis of efficient heterogeneous photocatalysts for potential commercial applications.
Visible superiority in hydrogen production! Potassium‐modified graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanosheets are synthesized by a facile KCl‐template method using no hazardous chemicals. The resultant architecture has a high photocatalytic activity (thirteen times higher than that of pure g‐C3N4) as well as good stability for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation.