Generation of Hydrogen Gas Using CuCr2O4-g-C3N4Nanocomposites under Illumination by Visible Light

Abstract

In this research, nanocomposites made of CuCr2O4-g-C3N4 accommodating distinct contents of CuCr2O4 (1-4 wt %) nanoparticles (NPs) were endorsed for hydrogen gas production after illumination by visible light in the presence of aqueous glycerol solution. The ultrasonication-mixture method was applied to assure the homogeneous distribution of CuCr2O4 NPs over synthesized mesoporous g-C3N4. Such nanocomposites possess suppressed recombination between the photoinduced charges. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy examinations affirmed the formation of CuCr2O4-g-C3N4 heterojunctions. The separation between the induced charges and the photocatalytic performance with the CuCr2O4 NP amount were investigated. The CuCr2O4-g-C3N4 heterojunction of 3 wt % CuCr2O4 content was documented as the optimal heterojunction. Upgraded hydrogen gas generation was attained over the optimal heterojunction with the extent of ten and thirty times as those registered for pure CuCr2O4 and g-C3N4 specimens, respectively, under illumination by visible light. The photocatalytic performance acquired by the diverse synthesized specimens was assessed not only by their effectiveness to absorb light in the visible region but also by their potential to separate the photoinduced charges.