Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Modulating the photoelectrons of g-C3N4 via coupling MgTi2O5 as appropriate platform for visible-light-driven photocatalytic solar energy conversion

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Nano Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become an attractive visible-light-responsive photocatalyst because of its semiconductor polymer compositions and easy-modulated band structure. However, the bulk g-C3N4 photocatalyst has the low separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and unsatisfied surface catalytic performance, which leads to poor photocatalytic performance. As for this, MgTi2O5 with high chemical stability, wide band gap and negative conduction band was used as a suitable platform for coupling with g-C3N4 to enhance charge separation and promoted the photoactivity. Different from common approaches, here, we propose an innovative method to construct g-C3N4/MgTi2O5 nanocomposites featuring “0 + 1 > 1” magnification effect to improve g-C3N4 photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. Additionally, compositing metal oxides of MgTi2O5 with g-C3N4 has proven to be a proper strategy to accelerate surface catalytic reactions in g-C3N4, and the photoinduced carriers were modulated to maintain thermodynamic equilibrium, which convincingly promotes the photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposites was measured by hydrogen production and CO2 reduction under visible light. The developed g-C3N4/MgTi2O5 nanocomposites with a 5 wt.% MgTi2O5 exhibits the highest H2 and CO yield under visible light and excellent stability compare to the other MgTi2O5 contents in composites. According to surface photo-voltage spectra, electrochemical CO2 reduction, photoluminescence, etc. The superior performance can be related to an enhanced electron lifetime, the promoted charge transfer and the increased electronic separation property of g-C3N4. Our work provides an approach to overcome the defect of pure g-C3N4, which accesses to composite with the second component matched well.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Fujishima, A.; Honda, K. Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nature 1972, 238, 37–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Muhammad, N. A.; Wang, Y. J.; Muhammad, F. E.; He, T. Photoreduction of carbon dioxide using strontium zirconate nanoparticles. Sci. China Mater. 2015, 58, 634–639.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Meng, X. G; Zuo, G F.; Zong, P. X.; Pang, H.; Ren, J.; Zeng, X. F.; Liu, S. S.; Shen, Y.; Zhou, W.; Ye, J. H. A rapidly room-temperature-synthesized Cd/ZnS:Cu nanocrystal photocatalyst for highly efficient solar-light-powered CO2 reduction. Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 2018, 237, 68–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Lei, Y. P.; Shi, Q.; Han, C.; Wang, B.; Wu, N.; Wang, H.; Wang, Y. D. N-doped graphene grown on silk cocoon-derived interconnected carbon fibers for oxygen reduction reaction and photocatalytic hydrogen production. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 2498–2509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Habisreutinger, S. N.; Schmidt-Mende, L.; Stolarczyk, J. K. Photocatalytic reduction of CO2 on TiO2 and other semiconductors. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 7372–7408.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Shan, J. J.; Raziq, F.; Humayun, M.; Zhou, W.; Qu, Y.; Wang, G. F.; Li, Y. D. Improved charge separation and surface activation via boron-doped layered polyhedron SrTiO3 for co-catalyst free photocatalytic CO2 conversion. Appl. Catal. B: Environ. 2017, 219, 10–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Jang, Y. J.; Jang, J. W.; Lee, J.; Kim, J. H.; Kumagai, H.; Lee, J.; Minegishi, T.; Kubota, J.; Domen, K.; Lee, J. S. Selective CO production by Au coupled ZnTe/ZnO in the photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction system. Energy Environ. Sci. 2015, 8, 3597–3604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhang, N.; Qu, Y.; Pan, K.; Wang, G. F.; Li, Y. D. Synthesis of pure phase Mg1.2Ti1.8O5 and MgTiO3 nanocrystals for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 726–734.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Wang, D. S.; Xie, T.; Li, Y. D. Nanocrystals: Solution-based synthesis and applications as nanocatalysts. Nano Res. 2009, 2, 30–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Zhu, M. S.; Chen, P. L.; Liu, M. H. Visible-light-driven Ag/Ag3PO4-based plasmonic photocatalysts: Enhanced photocatalytic performance by hybridization with graphene oxide. Chin. Sci. Bull. 2013, 58, 84–91.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wang, H. T.; Wu, X.; Zhao, H. M.; Quan, X. Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride by molecular imprinted film modified TiO2 nanotubes. Chin. Sci. Bull. 2012, 57, 601–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang, X. D.; Wang, H. X.; Wang, H.; Zhang, Q.; Xie, J. F.; Tian, Y. P.; Wang, J.; Xie, Y. Single-layered graphitic-C3N4 quantum dots for two-photon fluorescence imaging of cellular nucleus. Adv. Mater. 2014, 26, 4438–4443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen, D. D.; Wu, I. C.; Liu, Z. H.; Tang, Y.; Chen, H. B.; Yu, J. B.; Wu, C. F.; Chiu, D. T. Semiconducting polymer dots with bright narrow-band emission at 800 nm for biological applications. Chem. Sci. 2017, 8, 3390–3398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sun, K.; Yang, Y. K.; Zhou, H.; Yin, S. Y.; Qin, W. P.; Yu, J. B.; Chiu, D. T.; Yuan, Z.; Zhang, X. J.; Wu, C. F. Ultrabright polymer-dot transducer enabled wireless glucose monitoring via a smartphone. ACS Nano 2018, 12, 5176–5184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tang, S. F.; Yin, X. P.; Wang, G. Y.; Lu, X. L.; Lu, T. B. Single titanium-oxide species implanted in 2D g-C3N4 matrix as a highly efficient visible-light CO2 reduction photocatalyst. Nano Res. 2019, 12, 457–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Peng, W. C.; Li, X. Y. Synthesis of a sulfur-graphene composite as an enhanced metal-free photocatalyst. Nano Res. 2013, 6, 286–292.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Xiao, M.; Luo, B.; Wang, S. C.; Wang, L. Z. Solar energy conversion on g-C3N4 photocatalyst: Light harvesting, charge separation, and surface kinetics. J. Energy Chem. 2018, 27, 1111–1123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Fu, J. W.; Yu, J. G.; Jiang, C. J.; Cheng, B. g-C3N4-based heterostructured photocatalysts. Adv. Energy Mater. 2018, 8, 1701503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wang, Y. Y.; Bai, L. L.; Zhang, Z. Q.; Qu, Y.; Jing, L. Q. Improved visible-light photoactivity of Pt/g-C3N4 nanosheets for solar fuel production via pretreated boric acid modification. Res. Chem. Intermed. 2019, 45, 249–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wang, X. C.; Maeda, K.; Thomas, A.; Takanabe, K.; Xin, G.; Carlsson, J. M.; Domen, K.; Antonietti, M. A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light. Nat. Mater. 2009, 8, 76–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu, W.; Cao, L. L.; Cheng, W. R.; Cao, Y. J.; Liu, X. K.; Zhang, W.; Mou, X. L.; Jin, L. L.; Zheng, X. S.; Che, W. et al. Single-site active cobalt-based photocatalyst with a long carrier lifetime for spontaneous overall water splitting. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 9312–9317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhang, P.; Ochi, T.; Fujitsuka, M.; Kobori, Y.; Majima, T.; Tachikawa, T. Topotactic epitaxy of SrTiO3 mesocrystal superstructures with anisotropic construction for efficient overall water splitting. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 5299–5303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Wan, J. W.; Chen, W. X.; Jia, C. Y.; Zheng, L. R.; Dong, J. C.; Zheng, X. S.; Wang, Y.; Yan, W. S.; Chen, C.; Peng, Q. et al. Defect effects on TiO2 nanosheets: Stabilizing single atomic site Au and promoting catalytic properties. Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1705369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Waqas, M.; Wei, Y. Z.; Mao, D.; Qi, J.; Yang, Y.; Wang, B.; Wang, D. Multi-shelled TiO2/Fe2TiO5 heterostructured hollow microspheres for enhanced solar water oxidation. Nano Res. 2017, 10, 3920–3928.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Han, C.; Wang, Y. D.; Lei, Y. P.; Wang, B.; Wu, N.; Shi, Q.; Li, Q. In situ synthesis of graphitic-C3N4 nanosheet hybridized N-doped TiO2 nanofibers for efficient photocatalytic H2 production and degradation. Nano Res. 2015, 8, 1199–1209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Herlihy, D. M.; Waegele, M. M.; Chen, X. H.; Pemmaraju, C. D.; Prendergast, D.; Cuk, T. Detecting the oxyl radical of photocatalytic water oxidation at an n-SrTiO3/aqueous interface through its subsurface vibration. Nat. Chem. 2016, 8, 549–555.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Han, C.; Lei, Y. P.; Wang, B.; Wu, C. Z.; Zhang, X. S.; Shen, S. J.; Sun, L.; Tian, Q.; Feng, Q. G.; Wang, Y. D. The functionality of surface hydroxyls on selective CH4 generation from photoreduction of CO2 over SiC nanosheets. Chem. Commun. 2019, 55, 1572–1575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang, B.; Wang, Y. D.; Lei, Y. P.; Wu, N.; Gou, Y. Z.; Han, C.; Xie, S.; Fang, D. Mesoporous silicon carbide nanofibers with in situ embedded carbon for co-catalyst free photocatalytic hydrogen production. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 886–898.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Qu, Y.; Zhou, W.; Xie, Y.; Jiang, L.; Wang, J. Q.; Tian, G. H.; Ren, Z. Y.; Tian, C. H.; Fu, H. G. A novel phase-mixed MgTiO3-MgTi2O5 heterogeneous nanorod for high efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen production. Chem. Commun. 2013, 49, 8510–8512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Wu, N. Q.; Wang, J.; Tafen, D. N.; Wang, H.; Zheng, J. G.; Lewis, J. P.; Liu, X. G.; Leonard, S. S.; Manivannan, A. Shape-enhanced photocatalytic activity of single-crystalline anatase TiO2 (101) nanobelts. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 6679–6685.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Cui, Q. Z.; Dong, X. T.; Wang, J. X.; Li, M. Direct fabrication of cerium oxide hollow nanofibers by electrospinning. J. Rare Earths 2008, 26, 664–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Cheng, L.; Liu, P.; Qu, S. X.; Cheng, L.; Zhang, H. W. Microwave dielectric properties of Mg2TiO4 ceramics synthesized via high energy ball milling method. J. Alloys Compd. 2015, 623, 238–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Ullah, U.; Ali, W. F. F. W.; Ain, M. F.; Mahyuddin, N. M.; Ahmad, Z. A. Design of a novel dielectric resonator antenna using MgTiO3—CoTiO3 for wideband applications. Mater. Des. 2015, 85, 396–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhao, B.; Liu, Z. R.; Liu, Z. L.; Liu, G. X.; Li, Z.; Wang, J. X.; Dong, X. T. Silver microspheres for application as hydrogen peroxide sensor. Eleetrochem. Commun. 2009, 11, 1707–1710.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Ma, Y. X.; Li, H.; Peng, S.; Wang, L. Y. Highly selective and sensitive fluorescent paper sensor for nitroaromatic explosive detection. Anal. Chem. 2012, 84, 8415–8421.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Meng, L.; Ren, Z. Y.; Zhou, W.; Qu, Y.; Wang, G. F. MgTiO3/MgTi2O5/TiO2 heterogeneous belt-junctions with high photocatalytic hydrogen production activity. Nano Res. 2017, 10, 295–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Zhang, N.; Zhang, K. F.; Zhou, W.; Jiang, B. J.; Pan, K.; Qu, Y.; Wang, G. F. Pure phase orthorhombic MgTi2O5 photocatalyst for H2 production. RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 106151–106155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Mortazavi-Derazkola, S.; Salavati-Niasari, M.; Amiri, O.; Abbasi, A. Fabrication and characterization of Fe3O4@SiO2@TiO2@Ho nanostructures as a novel and highly efficient photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollution. J. Energy Chem. 2017, 26, 17–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21871079 and 21501052).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry, Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China

    Jiaxin Shen, Yanzhen Li, Haoying Zhao, Kai Pan, Xue Li, Yang Qu & Guofeng Wang

  2. Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Dingsheng Wang

Authors
  1. Jiaxin Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yanzhen Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Haoying Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kai Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xue Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yang Qu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Guofeng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Dingsheng Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Xue Li, Yang Qu or Guofeng Wang.

Electronic supplementary material

12274_2019_2460_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

Modulating the photoelectrons of g-C3N4 via coupling MgTi2O5 as appropriate platform for visible-light-driven photocatalytic solar energy conversion

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Shen, J., Li, Y., Zhao, H. et al. Modulating the photoelectrons of g-C3N4 via coupling MgTi2O5 as appropriate platform for visible-light-driven photocatalytic solar energy conversion. Nano Res. 12, 1931–1936 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-019-2460-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-019-2460-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation