Three-dimensional TiO2 nanotube arrays combined with g-C3N4 quantum dots for visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured photocatalyst combined with g-C3N4 quantum dots (QDs) and a TiO2 nanotube array (TNA) was fabricated to form a 3D g-C3N4/TNA nanocomposite by a facile electro-deposition process. The photocatalytic ability of the 3D g-C3N4/TNA was evaluated by measuring the amount of hydrogen generated from water splitting under visible light irradiation. Benefiting from an attractive heterostructure between g-C3N4 and TiO2 leading to a unique photogenerated charge separation, as well as a distinctive 3D well-ordered nanotube structure, this 3D g-C3N4/TNA exhibited an average H2 production of approximately 243 μmol h−1 g−1, which was approximately 4.7 times higher than that of sole g-C3N4 under the same experimental conditions. Therefore, this work could offer a prospective 3D nanostructure for visible light-driven photocatalytic applications.