g-C3N4 Modified by meso-Tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Under Visible/Near-Infrared Light

Yanfei Liu; Zhen Ma

doi:10.3389/fchem.2020.605343

g-C₃N₄ Modified by meso-Tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Under Visible/Near-Infrared Light

Front Chem. 2020 Nov 6:8:605343. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2020.605343. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Yanfei Liu¹, Zhen Ma^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP3), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
² Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, China.

Abstract

A new photocatalyst denoted as mTHPC/pCN was prepared by modifying protonated graphitic carbon nitride (pCN) by meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin (mTHPC). Relevant samples were characterized via various methods including zeta potential measurements, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible-near-infrared spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photocurrent response measurements, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and phosphorescence spectroscopy. Compared with pCN, mTHPC/pCN shows enhanced absorption in the visible and near-infrared regions and thus higher photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution. A possible mechanism for mTHPC/pCN is proposed.

Keywords: g-C3N4; hydrogen evolution; meso-tetrahydroxyphenylchlorin; photocatalytic; visible/near-infrared light.