Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (3): 352-361.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(18)63180-8

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Novel PtPd alloy nanoparticle-decorated g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution under visible light irradiation

Nan Xiaoa,b, Songsong Lib, Shuang Liub, Boran Xub, Yandong Lib, Yangqin Gaob, Lei Gea,b, Guiwu Lub   

  1. a State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing, China University of Petroleum Beijing, Beijing 102249, China;
    b College of New Energy and Materials, China University of Petroleum Beijing, Beijing 102249, China
  • Received:2018-08-06 Revised:2018-09-25 Online:2019-03-18 Published:2019-02-22
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51572295, 21273285, 21003157), the Beijing Nova Program (2008B76), and the Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum Beijing (KYJJ2012-06-20 and 2462016YXBS05).

Abstract:

PtPd bimetallic alloy nanoparticle (NP)-modified graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheet photocatalysts were synthesized via chemical deposition precipitation. Characterization of the photocatalytic H2 evolution of the g-C3N4 nanosheets shows that it was significantly enhanced when PtPd alloy NPs were introduced as a co-catalyst. The 0.2 wt% PtPd/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst gave a maximum H2 production rate of 1600.8 μmol g-1 h-1. Furthermore, when K2HPO4 was added to the reaction system, the H2 production rate increased to 2885.0 μmol g-1 h-1. The PtPd/g-C3N4 photocatalyst showed satisfactory photocatalytic stability and was able to maintain most of its photocatalytic activity after four experimental photocatalytic cycles. In addition, a possible mechanism for the enhanced photocatalytic activity was proposed and verified by various photoelectric techniques. These results demonstrate that the synergistic effect between PtPd and g-C3N4 helps to greatly improve the photocatalytic activity of the composite photocatalyst.

Key words: g-C3N4 nanosheets, PtPd alloy nanoparticles, H2 evolution, Photocatalysis