TY - JOUR
T1 - Synergistic effect of cobalt in hierarchical carbon nitride nanorods (HCNNR) with promising charge transfer rate by hole scavenger for stimulating solar H2 production
AU - Tahir, Beenish
AU - Tahir, Muhammad
AU - Siraj, Mohammad
AU - Fatehmulla, Amanullah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2022/9/25
Y1 - 2022/9/25
N2 - One-dimensional (1D) hierarchical carbon nitrides nanorods (HCNNRs) mediated by cobalt was designed and synthesized using a template free hydrothermal approach for improving solar light assisted H2 evolution. The performance of 1D HCNNTs was significantly enhanced compared to bulk g-C3N4 due to larger active surface area, more visible light utilization and superior charge carrier along the unidirectional flow pathways. The 2% Co/HCNNRs (1D) exhibited excellent photocatalytic efficiency and optimal H2 yield reached up to 620 µmol g−1, which is 11.27 and 17.71 folds more than it was attained with pure HCNNR and bulk g-C3N4, respectively. This reveals that 1D structure helps to accelerate charge transport, whereas, Co works as a mediator to trap electrons, thus improving photocatalytic performance. The crucial operating parameters such as sacrificial reagents, feed concentration and catalyst loading were further optimized based on highest H2 evolution. Interestingly, mass transfer, charge transfer and amount of photoinduced charges were greatly dependent on the operating parameters. Higher methanol and lower TEOA concentration were beneficial to yield highest photoactivity and stability. This work provides new approach to construct template free 1D nanorods and would be beneficial to enhance performance in other solar energy related applications.
AB - One-dimensional (1D) hierarchical carbon nitrides nanorods (HCNNRs) mediated by cobalt was designed and synthesized using a template free hydrothermal approach for improving solar light assisted H2 evolution. The performance of 1D HCNNTs was significantly enhanced compared to bulk g-C3N4 due to larger active surface area, more visible light utilization and superior charge carrier along the unidirectional flow pathways. The 2% Co/HCNNRs (1D) exhibited excellent photocatalytic efficiency and optimal H2 yield reached up to 620 µmol g−1, which is 11.27 and 17.71 folds more than it was attained with pure HCNNR and bulk g-C3N4, respectively. This reveals that 1D structure helps to accelerate charge transport, whereas, Co works as a mediator to trap electrons, thus improving photocatalytic performance. The crucial operating parameters such as sacrificial reagents, feed concentration and catalyst loading were further optimized based on highest H2 evolution. Interestingly, mass transfer, charge transfer and amount of photoinduced charges were greatly dependent on the operating parameters. Higher methanol and lower TEOA concentration were beneficial to yield highest photoactivity and stability. This work provides new approach to construct template free 1D nanorods and would be beneficial to enhance performance in other solar energy related applications.
KW - Carbon nitrides nanorods (CNNR)
KW - Cobalt cocatalyst
KW - Operating parameters
KW - Photocatalytic H evolution
KW - Sacrificial reagents
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165332
DO - 10.1016/j.jallcom.2022.165332
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85130542541
SN - 0925-8388
VL - 916
JO - Journal of Alloys and Compounds
JF - Journal of Alloys and Compounds
M1 - 165332
ER -