Construction of Cu7.2S4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst for efficient NIR photocatalysis of H2 production.

Graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) has been regarded as a promising photocatalyst for solar-to-chemical conversion. Nevertheless, the narrow absorption of light extremely limited its photocatalytic performance under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. Herein, the Cu 7. 2 S 4 with outstanding NIR absorption was successfully introduced to g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets through a simple in-situ growth procedure. As expected, the constructed Cu 7.2 S 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (CSCN) photocatalysts exhibit superior H 2 production activity of 82 μmol g−1 h−1 under NIR light irradiation (λ > 800 nm), which outperforms currently reported g–C 3 N 4 –based NIR-driven H 2 production systems. Especially, the optimal sample CSCN-5 displays a robust activity of 66 μmol g−1 h−1 at λ = 850 nm monochromatic light irradiation. The excellent photocatalytic performance is linked to the extended optical absorption as well as the efficient separation efficiency of photoinduced carriers, which are evidenced by the UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical test. This work provides an effective approach for constructing a Cu 7.2 S 4 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic system for the transformation of NIR solar energy into hydrogen. The novel NIR-driven Cu 7. 2 S 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalyst was constructed through a convenient in situ growth process. As expected, the outstanding photocatalytic H 2 yield was 82 μmol g−1 h−1 under the irradiation of NIR light (λ > 800 nm), which outperforms currently reported g–C 3 N 4 –based NIR-driven H 2 production systems. More significantly, the sample CSCN-5 shows an optimum activity (66 μmol g−1 h−1) under λ = 850 nm monochromatic light irradiation. This work provides a feasible approach for achieving g–C 3 N 4 –based photocatalyst NIR-induced superior solar-to-chemical conversion. [Display omitted] • Cu 7·2 S 4 modified g-C 3 N 4 is prepared by a facile hydrothermal treatment method. • The Cu 7·2 S 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composites show a superior optical adsorption from visible to NIR. • The Cu 7·2 S 4 /g–C 3 N 4 –5 composite exhibits excellent HER of 82 μmol g−1 h−1 (λ > 800 nm). • The HER of Cu 7·2 S 4 /g–C 3 N 4 –5 shows no obvious change after 4 runs within 20 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]