Apparent Potential Difference Boosting Directional Electron Transfer for Full Solar Spectrum‐Irradiated Catalytic H₂ Evolution

Abstract

Directional charge transfer among nanolayers of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) is still inefficient because of the interlayer electrostatic potential barrier, which tremendously restricts the utilization of charges in conversion of solar energy into fuel. Herein, an apparent potential among nanolayers is introduced to boost interlayer electron transfer by curving planar g‐C3N4 nanosheets into carbon nitride square tubes (C3N4Ts), and Ni2P nanoparticles as electron acceptors are loaded on C3N4Ts (Ni2P/C3N4Ts) for highly efficient H2 evolution. Study results present H2‐evolution efficiency over the constructed Ni2P/C3N4Ts up to 19.25 mmol g−1 h−1 with a large number of visible H2 bubbles, which is more than 1.9 and 2.6 times of that over g‐C3N4 supported 1 wt%Pt and 3 wt%Pd, respectively. Density functional theory (DFT) and characterizations reveal efficient directional transfer through C3N4T interlayer (001) to Ni2P (111) is achieved under the apparent potential difference of C3N4Ts, which therefore ensures the high H2‐evolution performance of Ni2P/C3N4Ts. These results in the field of material engineering supply a novel strategy to boost directional charge transfer for solar energy conversion efficiency by introducing apparent potential difference.

S‐Scheme Photocatalytic Systems

“…Adapted with permission. [ 47 ] Copyright 2020, Wiley. c) The assembly diagram of confinement growth transition metal oxide semiconductor within g‐C 3 N 4 , and d) the confined S‐scheme photocatalytic system with double electric fields.…”

One‐Step Realization of Crystallization and Cyano‐Group Generation for g‐C3N4 Photocatalysts with Improved H2 Production

“…[ 1–6 ] Photocatalytic technology has been perceived as one of the most hopeful techniques. [ 7–14 ] Among multitudinous photocatalysts, [ 15–21 ] graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), one of the most prospective visible‐light response photocatalysts, has caught extensive attention in photocatalytic pollutant degradation, [ 22 ] hydrogen production, [ 23,24 ] and CO 2 reduction [ 25 ] due to its excellent bandgap structure and prominent thermostability. The conventional g‐C 3 N 4 was normally produced by a high‐temperature calcination process using various organic precursors (for instance, melamine, thiourea, dicyandiamide, et al).…”

Visible‐light‐stimulated Alkalis‐triggered Platinum Cocatalyst with Electron Deficient Interface for Hydrogen Evolution

“…Efficient electron‐hole separation and rapid surface reactions play a vital role in achieving high quantum efficiencies in the process of photocatalysis. Meanwhile, the introduction of cocatalysts not only accelerates electron‐hole separation but also provides active sites for H 2 O adsorption and activation, which allows further improvement of the photocatalytic efficiency . Particularly, platinum (Pt) based cocatalyst has been the most investigated and industrial‐relevant material for water splitting via forming a Schottky junction and an active interface with the photocatalyst.…”