Achieving Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution through the Construction of g-C3N4@PdS@Pt Nanocomposites

Abstract

Selective supported catalysts have emerged as a promising approach to enhance carrier separation, particularly in the realm of photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, a pioneering exploration involves the loading of PdS and Pt catalyst onto g-C3N4 nanosheets to construct g-C3N4@PdS@Pt nanocomposites. The photocatalytic activity of nanocomposites was evaluated under visible light and full spectrum irradiation. The results show that g-C3N4@PdS@Pt nanocomposites exhibit excellent properties. Under visible light irradiation, these nanocomposites exhibit a remarkable production rate of 1289 μmol·g−1·h−1, marking a staggering 60-fold increase compared to g-C3N4@Pt (20.9 μmol·g−1·h−1). Furthermore, when subjected to full spectrum irradiation, the hydrogen production efficiency of g-C3N4@PdS@Pt-3 nanocomposites reaches an impressive 11,438 μmol·g−1·h−1, representing an eightfold enhancement compared to g-C3N4@Pt (1452 μmol·g−1·h−1) under identical conditions. Detailed investigations into the microstructure and optical properties of g-C3N4@PdS catalysts were conducted, shedding light on the mechanisms governing photocatalytic hydrogen production. This study offers valuable insights into the potential of these nanocomposites and their pivotal role in advancing photocatalysis.