journal article·2018-06Open access

Novel Cu3P/g-C3N4 p-n heterojunction photocatalysts for solar hydrogen generation

Zhixiao Qin, Menglong Wang, Rui Li, Yubin Chen

Science China Materials· Volume 61· Issue 6

Abstract

Developing efficient heterostructured photocatalysts to accelerate charge separation and transfer is crucial to improving photocatalytic hydrogen generation using solar energy. Herein, we report for the first time that p-type copper phosphide (Cu 3 P) coupled with n-type graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) forms a p-n junction to accelerate charge separation and transfer for enhanced photocatalytic activity. The optimized Cu 3 P/g-C 3 N 4 p-n heterojunction photocatalyst exhibits 95 times higher activity than bare g-C 3 N 4 , with an apparent quantum efficiency of 2.6% at 420 nm. A detail analysis of the reaction mechanism by photoluminescence, surface photovoltaics and electrochemical measurements revealed that the improved photocatalytic activity can be ascribed to efficient separation of photo-induced charge carriers. This work demonstrates that p-n junction structure is a useful strategy for developing efficient heterostructured photocatalysts.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Copper-based nanomaterials and applications · Perovskite Materials and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (43)

Show source-provided references
1. Gray HB. Powering the planet with solar fuel. Nat Chem, 2009, 1: 710.1038/nchem.141 ↗
2. Fujishima A, Honda K. Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nature, 1972, 238: 37–3810.1038/238037a0 ↗
3. Chen X, Shen S, Guo L, et al. Semiconductor-based photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Chem Rev, 2010, 110: 6503–657010.1021/cr1001645 ↗
4. Tong H, Ouyang S, Bi Y, et al. Nano-photocatalytic materials: possibilities and challenges. Adv Mater, 2012, 24: 229–25110.1002/adma.201102752 ↗
5. Zhang K, Guo L. Metal sulphide semiconductors for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Catal Sci Technol, 2013, 3: 1672–169010.1039/c3cy00018d ↗
6. Su J, Zhou J, Wang L, et al. Synthesis and application of transition metal phosphides as electrocatalyst for water splitting. Sci Bull, 2017, 62: 633–64410.1016/j.scib.2016.12.011 ↗
7. Wang X, Maeda K, Thomas A, et al. A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light. Nat Mater, 2009, 8: 76–8010.1038/nmat2317 ↗
8. Liu G, Wang T, Zhang H, et al. Nature-inspired environmental “phosphorylation” boosts photocatalytic H2 production over carbon nitride nanosheets under visible-light irradiation. Angew Chem, 2015, 127: 13765–1376910.1002/ange.201505802 ↗
9. Liu J, Liu Y, Liu N, et al. Metal-free efficient photocatalyst for stable visible water splitting via a two-electron pathway. Science, 2015, 347: 970–97410.1126/science.aaa3145 ↗
10. Li Y, Xu H, Ouyang S, et al. In situ surface alkalinized g-C3N4 toward enhancement of photocatalytic H2 evolution under visiblelight irradiation. J Mater Chem A, 2016, 4: 2943–295010.1039/C5TA05128B ↗
11. Ong WJ, Tan LL, Ng YH, et al. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis and environmental remediation: are we a step closer to achieving sustainability? Chem Rev, 2016, 116: 7159–732910.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00075 ↗
12. Qin Z, Chen Y, Wang X, et al. Intergrowth of cocatalysts with host photocatalysts for improved solar-to-hydrogen conversion. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces, 2016, 8: 1264–127210.1021/acsami.5b09943 ↗
13. Chang K, Mei Z, Wang T, et al. MoS2/Graphene cocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light irradiation. ACS Nano, 2014, 8: 7078–708710.1021/nn5019945 ↗
14. Yang J, Wang D, Han H, et al. Roles of cocatalysts in photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. Acc Chem Res, 2013, 46: 1900–190910.1021/ar300227e ↗
15. Maeda K, Wang X, Nishihara Y, et al. Photocatalytic activities of graphitic carbon nitride powder for water reduction and oxidation under visible light. J Phys Chem C, 2009, 113: 4940–494710.1021/jp809119m ↗
16. Chen Y, Qin Z. General applicability of nanocrystalline Ni2P as a noble-metal-free cocatalyst to boost photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Catal Sci Technol, 2016, 6: 8212–822110.1039/C6CY01653G ↗
17. Yi SS, Yan JM, Wulan BR, et al. Noble-metal-free cobalt phosphide modified carbon nitride: an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen generation. Appl Catal B-Environ, 2017, 200: 477–48310.1016/j.apcatb.2016.07.046 ↗
18. Indra A, Acharjya A, Menezes PW, et al. Boosting visible-lightdriven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with an integrated nickel phosphide-carbon nitride system. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2017, 56: 1653–165710.1002/anie.201611605 ↗
19. Zhao H, Sun S, Jiang P, et al. Graphitic C3N4 modified by Ni2P cocatalyst: an efficient, robust and low cost photocatalyst for visible-light-driven H2 evolution from water. Chem Eng J, 2017, 315: 296–30310.1016/j.cej.2017.01.034 ↗
20. Sun Z, Zheng H, Li J, et al. Extraordinarily efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in water using semiconductor nanorods integrated with crystalline Ni2P cocatalysts. Energy Environ Sci, 2015, 8: 2668–267610.1039/C5EE01310K ↗
21. Cao S, Chen Y, Wang CJ, et al. Spectacular photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using metal-phosphide/CdS hybrid catalysts under sunlight irradiation. Chem Commun, 2015, 51: 8708–871110.1039/C5CC01799H ↗
22. Sun Z, Yue Q, Li J, et al. Copper phosphide modified cadmium sulfide nanorods as a novel p-n heterojunction for highly efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen production in water. J Mater Chem A, 2015, 3: 10243–1024710.1039/C5TA02105G ↗
23. Yue X, Yi S, Wang R, et al. A novel and highly efficient earthabundant Cu3P with TiO2 “P-N” heterojunction nanophotocatalyst for hydrogen evolution from water. Nanoscale, 2016, 8: 17516–1752310.1039/C6NR06620H ↗
24. Qin Z, Xue F, Chen Y, et al. Spatial charge separation of onedimensional Ni2P-Cd0.9Zn0.1S/g-C3N4 heterostructure for highquantum-yield photocatalytic hydrogen production. Appl Catal BEnviron, 2017, 217: 551–55910.1016/j.apcatb.2017.06.018 ↗
25. Chen Y, Qin Z, Wang X, et al. Noble-metal-free Cu2S-modified photocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production by forming nanoscale p-n junction structure. RSC Adv, 2015, 5: 18159–1816610.1039/C5RA00091B ↗
26. Chen Y, Wang L, Lu GM, et al. Nanoparticles enwrapped with nanotubes: a unique architecture of CdS/titanate nanotubes for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen production from water. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21: 5134–514110.1039/c0jm03945d ↗
27. Meng F, Li J, Cushing SK, et al. Solar hydrogen generation by nanoscale p-n junction of p-type molybdenum disulfide/n-type nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide. J Am Chem Soc, 2013, 135: 10286–1028910.1021/ja404851s ↗
28. Manna G, Bose R, Pradhan N. Semiconducting and plasmonic copper phosphide platelets. Angew Chem Int Ed, 2013, 52: 6762–676610.1002/anie.201210277 ↗
29. Ni S, Ma J, Lv X, et al. The fine electrochemical performance of porous Cu3P/Cu and the high energy density of Cu3P as anode for Li-ion batteries. J Mater Chem A, 2014, 2: 20506–2050910.1039/C4TA03871A ↗
30. Villevieille C, Robert F, Taberna PL, et al. The good reactivity of lithium with nanostructured copper phosphide. J Mater Chem, 2008, 18: 5956–596010.1039/b810841b ↗
31. Liang Q, Li Z, Yu X, et al. Macroscopic 3D porous graphitic carbon nitride monolith for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Adv Mater, 2015, 27: 4634–463910.1002/adma.201502057 ↗
32. Xiong J, Wang Y, Xue Q, et al. Synthesis of highly stable dispersions of nanosized copper particles using L-ascorbic acid. Green Chem, 2011, 13: 900–90410.1039/c0gc00772b ↗
33. Butler MA. Photoelectrolysis and physical properties of the semiconducting electrode WO2. J Appl Phys, 1977, 48: 1914–192010.1063/1.323948 ↗
34. Zhang G, Lan ZA, Lin L, et al. Overall water splitting by Pt/g-C3N4 photocatalysts without using sacrificial agents. Chem Sci, 2016, 7: 3062–306610.1039/C5SC04572J ↗
35. Chen Z, Berciaud S, Nuckolls C, et al. Energy transfer from individual semiconductor nanocrystals to graphene. ACS Nano, 2010, 4: 2964–296810.1021/nn1005107 ↗
36. Han C, Wu L, Ge L, et al. AuPd bimetallic nanoparticles decorated graphitic carbon nitride for highly efficient reduction of water to H2 under visible light irradiation. Carbon, 2015, 92: 31–4010.1016/j.carbon.2015.02.070 ↗
37. Bi L, Xu D, Zhang L, et al. Metal Ni-loaded g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution activity: the change in surface band bending. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2015, 17: 29899–2990510.1039/C5CP05158D ↗
38. Cao S, Low J, Yu J, et al. Polymeric photocatalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride. Adv Mater, 2015, 27: 2150–217610.1002/adma.201500033 ↗
39. Qin Z, Chen Y, Huang Z, et al. Composition-dependent catalytic activities of noble-metal-free NiS/Ni3S4 for hydrogen evolution reaction. J Phys Chem C, 2016, 120: 14581–1458910.1021/acs.jpcc.6b05230 ↗
40. Zhang J, Qi L, Ran J, et al. Ternary NiS/Znx Cd1-xS/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites for enhanced solar photocatalytic H2-production activity. Adv Energy Mater, 2014, 4: 130192510.1002/aenm.201301925 ↗
41. Chen J, Shen S, Guo P, et al. In-situ reduction synthesis of nanosized Cu2O particles modifying g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production. Appl Catal B-Environ, 2014, 152-153: 335–34110.1016/j.apcatb.2014.01.047 ↗
42. Chen Y, Qin Z, Chen T, et al. Optimization of (Cu2Sn)xZn3(1-x)S3/CdS pn junction photoelectrodes for solar water reduction. RSC Adv, 2016, 6: 58409–5841610.1039/C6RA07841A ↗
43. Kronik L, Shapira Y. Surface photovoltage phenomena: theory, experiment, and applications. Surf Sci Rep, 1999, 37: 1–20610.1016/S0167-5729(99)00002-3 ↗