A novel microwave induced preparation of CuFe_2O_4/g- C_3N_4-based efficient photocatalyst for enhanced visible-light hydrogen evolution

摘要

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 (CuFe_2O_4/ g-C_3N_4) 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. CuFe_2O_4 was successfully incorporated in a g-C_3N_4 matrix in this composite, resulting in a CuFe_2O_4/g-C_3N_4 heterostructure that is substantially more efficient in photocatalytic H_2 generation by water splitting under visible light. The photocatalytic activity of CuFe_2O_4/g-C_3N_4 composites is influenced by the CuFe_2O_4 loading mass. The 15-CuFe_2O_4/g-C_3N_4 composite, which includes 15% CuFe_2O_4, has a greater photocatalytic activity than the massive g-C_3N_4, with such a hydrogen evolution rate of 545 molh~(-1) g~(-1), which really is 9.1-fold that of the massive g-C_3N_4. This paper proposes a new way for improving semiconductor-based heterostructures for solar fuel generation efficiency.