TPPH/g-C3N4 Nanohybrids Constructed with Surfactant-Assisted Co-Assembly for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

A new type of pure organic 5,10,15,20-tetra (4-hydroxyphenyl) porphyrin (TPPH)/[Formula: see text]-C3N4 nanohybrid was prepared to expand the light absorption range of graphitic carbon nitride materials. The morphology and structure of the composites were systematically characterized by scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results show that after the introduction of TPPH, the visible light area optical absorption of the composite sample increased significantly under the noncovalent interaction of TPPH and [Formula: see text]-C3N4, and the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] measurements confirmed the improved charge separation efficiency of the sample and showed excellent photocatalytic hydrogen production capacity. Under full spectrum irradiation, the hydrogen production of 1.67% TPPH/[Formula: see text]-C3N4 without adding co-catalyst reached 10.87[Formula: see text]mmol[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], about 2.68 times that of pure [Formula: see text]-C3N4 (4.06[Formula: see text]mmol[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]), which showed effective promotion of the electron transfer between TPPH and [Formula: see text]-C3N4.