Phosphorous, boron and sulfur doped g-C3N4 nanosheet: Synthesis, characterization, and comparative study towards photocatalytic hydrogen generation

July 30, 2020

Title

Phosphorous, boron and sulfur doped g-C3N4 nanosheet: Synthesis, characterization, and comparative study towards photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Author

Bhagyashree P. Mishra, Pradeepta Babu, Kulamani Parida

Year

2020

Journal

Materials Today: Proceedings

Abstract

Phosphorus, sulfur, and boron doped graphitic carbon nitride were successfully synthesized by solid-state calcination of melamine, as precursor of g-C3N4 and ammonium dihydrogen phosphate [NH4(H2PO4)], thiourea (CH4N2S), and boric acid (H3BO3) as dopant. The as synthesized materials were further subjected to chemical exfoliation using hydrochloric acid as exfoliating agent. The different physicochemical properties of the synthesized materials were well characterized by means of Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV–Visible diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL), and electrochemical measurement. Boron doping into the bulk CN lattice enhance the absorption of light, electron-hole separation as revealed from absorption and PL emission spectra. From the photocurrent and impedance spectra it is clear that boron doping not only enhances the photocurrent value but also decreases the charge transfer resistance of the parent material. All synthesised materials were tested for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction, out of which CNB shows highest rate of hydrogen generation (18.2 μmolh−1) which is around three times more than that of g-C3N4.

Instrument

V-750, FP-8300

Keywords

Absorption, Diffuse reflection, Band gap, Fluorescence, Photoluminescence, Materials, Nanostructures