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A novel microwave induced preparation of CuFe2O4/g-C3N4-based efficient photocatalyst for enhanced visible-light hydrogen evolution

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Abstract

A prominent issue is developing low-cost photocatalysts for water splitting hydrogen evolution. This work used a one-step microwave irradiation technique to make a copper ferrite incorporated graphitic carbon nitride (CuFe2O4/g-C3N4) nanocomposite for use as a visible-light reactive photocatalyst. XRD, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV, PL, and BET were used to analyze the structural, morphological, optical and elemental composition of the composite photocatalysts. CuFe2O4 was successfully incorporated in a g-C3N4 matrix in this composite, resulting in a CuFe2O4/g-C3N4 heterostructure that is substantially more efficient in photocatalytic H2 generation by water splitting under visible light. The photocatalytic activity of CuFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites is influenced by the CuFe2O4 loading mass. The 15-CuFe2O4/g-C3N4 composite, which includes 15% CuFe2O4, has a greater photocatalytic activity than the massive g-C3N4, with such a hydrogen evolution rate of 545 molh−1 g–1, which really is 9.1-fold that of the massive g-C3N4. This paper proposes a new way for improving semiconductor-based heterostructures for solar fuel generation efficiency.

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  1. PG and Research Department of Physics, Thiruvalluvar Government Arts College, Rasipuram, Tamil Nadu, 637401, India

    S. Renukadevi & A. Pricilla Jeyakumari

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  1. S. Renukadevi
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Renukadevi, S., Pricilla Jeyakumari, A. A novel microwave induced preparation of CuFe2O4/g-C3N4-based efficient photocatalyst for enhanced visible-light hydrogen evolution. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 32, 25399–25408 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-06999-9

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