Improving Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production over Pd Nanoparticles Decorated with g-C3N5 Photocatalyst

Abstract

A uniform distribution of Pd nanoparticles on g-C3N5 layers is achieved through wet-chemical reduction (Pd/g-C3N5-EG). Pd/g-C3N5-EG demonstrates superior hydrogen production yield compared to heterojunctions synthesized via photoreduction (Pd/g-C3N5-PR), attributed to improved metal–support interaction. Pd/g-C3N5-EG demonstrates an average hydrogen evolution rate of 891.304 µmol g−1 h−1, representing a 7.8-fold increase over Pd/g-C3N5-PR and a 34.5-fold increase over bare g-C3N5. Pd/g-C3N5-EG also maintains its hydrogen production capability after five recycling cycles, with only a slight decrease in efficiency.