Bi2O3/ g-C3N4 nanocomposites as proficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from aqueous glycerol solutions beneath visible light

A sequence of Bi2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites with diverse Bi2O3 content (0.5–5 molar %) has been synthesized by the sonication-mixture method using mesoporous β-Bi2O3 and g-C3N4 and utilized as efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation from aqueous glycerol solutions beneath visible light irradiation. Mesoporous Bi2O3 particles were effectively integrated at the exterior of two-dimensional (2D) g-C3N4 nanolayers producing effective heterojunctions that facilitate the charge transference amongst g-C3N4 and Bi2O3 and minimize the recombination of photocharges. The number and efficiency of the heterojunctions in the Bi2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites depend on the Bi2O3 amount, reaching the optimal development at 3.0 molar % of Bi2O3. The maximum H2 production was then obtained on the 3.0% β-Bi2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite that achieves a production (8600 μmol g−1) 20-fold greater than that obtained on bare β-Bi2O3 and g-C3N4 counterparts. The improvement in the photoactivity of Bi2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites was analyzed taking into account the differences in the capability of the nanocomposites to fascinate visible light and the efficiency of detaching the photoinduced charges derived from the different Bi2O3 content in the nanocomposites. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l.