Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Decorated with Zinc-Cadmium Sulfide for Type-II Heterojunctions for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

In this study, we fabricated graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets with embedded ZnCdS nanoparticles to form a type II heterojunction using a facile synthesis approach, and we used them for photocatalytic H2 production. The morphologies, chemical structure, and optical properties of the obtained g-C3N4–ZnCdS samples were characterized by a battery of techniques, such as TEM, XRD, XPS, and UV-Vis DRS. The as-synthesized g-C3N4–ZnCdS photocatalyst exhibited the highest hydrogen production rate of 108.9 μmol·g−1·h−1 compared to the individual components (g-C3N4: 13.5 μmol·g−1·h−1, ZnCdS: 45.3 μmol·g−1·h−1). The improvement of its photocatalytic activity can mainly be attributed to the heterojunction formation and resulting synergistic effect, which provided more channels for charge carrier migration and reduced the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Meanwhile, the g-C3N4–ZnCdS heterojunction catalyst also showed a higher stability over a number of repeated cycles. Our work provides insight into using g-C3N4 and metal sulfide in combination so as to develop low-cost, efficient, visible-light-active hydrogen production photocatalysts.

Antibacterial Activity of Molybdenum Oxide–Polyacrylonitrile Composite Membrane with Fast Silver Ion Reduction

“…By the creation of hybrid composites, it becomes possible to maximize the advantages while minimizing the drawbacks associated with individual types of nanoparticles (NPs). Additionally, the “combinatorial” approach allows for an extended duration of effective antibacterial action, significantly reducing bacterial resistance development. , Among the diverse array of nanomaterials available, organic polymerized nanomaterials offer the advantage of pH-responsive antimicrobial properties and the ability to mimic the actions of antimicrobial peptides to combat bacteria. , Inorganic metals, , such as gold , (Au), silver , (Ag), and copper , (Cu), as well as transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), metal oxides, , carbon-based nanomaterials, polymers, and their nanocomposites, have all been prominently utilized in the antibacterial research field . These materials operate through distinct antibacterial mechanisms compared with conventional antibiotics and carry a reduced risk of fostering bacterial resistance.…”

“… 10 , 16 Among the diverse array of nanomaterials available, organic polymerized nanomaterials offer the advantage of pH-responsive antimicrobial properties and the ability to mimic the actions of antimicrobial peptides to combat bacteria. 17 , 18 Inorganic metals, 7 , 19 such as gold 20 , 21 (Au), silver 22 , 23 (Ag), and copper 24 , 25 (Cu), as well as transition metal dichalcogenides 26 (TMDs), metal oxides, 27 , 28 carbon-based nanomaterials, 29 polymers, and their nanocomposites, have all been prominently utilized in the antibacterial research field. 30 These materials operate through distinct antibacterial mechanisms compared with conventional antibiotics and carry a reduced risk of fostering bacterial resistance.…”