Fabrication of sodium-doped graphitic carbon nitride for photoelectrochemical water splitting into hydrogen

Abstract

Abstract We observed and analyzed the physical properties of samples that underwent hydrothermal polymerization in a sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution applied to graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The hydrogen production rate was evaluated to analyze photocatalytic performance. This research confirmed that the sodium-doping enhanced the photocatalytic capabilities of the g-C3N4. Further property evaluations were conducted. A correlation between the hydrogen production rates and photoluminescence (PL) analysis clearly demonstrates that when the PL intensity decreased, the hydrogen production rates inversely increased. Additionally, the results from X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy measurements indicated that the prepared samples were indeed g-C3N4. These findings demonstrate that the sodium-doping is an effective means of improving the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4.