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Solar photocatalytic hydrogen production of g-C3N4/KTaO3 heterojunction for water splitting via interface engineering

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Abstract

Heterojunction construction is a significant method for enhancing the efficiency of electron–hole separation in photocatalysts, and it can be used to construct effective photocatalysts with visible light responses. In this study, g-C3N4 and KTaO3 compounds are prepared using phase sintering and solvothermal methods. Then, the classical self-assembly process produces the KTCN composite photocatalysts. The hydrogen production rate of the KTCN composite photocatalysts (~ 842.7 μmol g−1 h−1) is 4.25 times faster than that of the pure g-C3N4 (198.2 μmol g−1 h−1). The formation of the heterojunction reduces the photon-generated carrier’s recombination rate, thereby improving photocatalytic efficiency. The samples were further investigated by transient photoluminescence spectroscopy. The photoluminescence intensity of the composite photocatalyst was lower than that of g-C3N4, indicating that the electron–hole pair complexation efficiency was significantly reduced. The heterojunction of the composite photocatalyst can significantly enhance the photoexcited interfacial charge transfer and improve carrier–hole separation efficiency. Finally, this research offers an effective method for using composite photocatalysts in photocatalytic hydrogen production.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from School of Materials, Guilin University of Electronic Science and Technology, but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for the current study, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of Pro. Changlai Yuan.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of the Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (2021GXNSFAA220029), Foundation for Guangxi Bagui scholars, and the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials (191026-Z).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials, School of Material Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, 541004, China

    Jincan Li, Changlai Yuan, Xiao Liu, Kaiyuan Su, Jiwen Xu, Baohua Zhu, Changrong Zhou & Guanghui Rao

  2. Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Tianjin Zhang

  3. Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Guanghui Rao

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  1. Jincan Li
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  2. Changlai Yuan
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  3. Xiao Liu
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Contributions

JL implemented the research scheme and wrote the manuscript. KS provided provided some help during the experiment. CY reviewed and edited the article. XL reviewed and edited the article. TZ reviewed and edited the article. JX reviewed and edited the article. BZ reviewed and edited the article. CZ reviewed and edited the article. GR reviewed and edited the article.

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Correspondence to Changlai Yuan, Baohua Zhu or Guanghui Rao.

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Li, J., Yuan, C., Liu, X. et al. Solar photocatalytic hydrogen production of g-C3N4/KTaO3 heterojunction for water splitting via interface engineering. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 34, 1067 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-023-10460-4

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