Boosting the Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Performance of Mg- and Cl-Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Microtubes
Dan Long, Wenyu Diao, Xi Rao, Yongping Zhang
Abstract
To tune its band structure by doping element and to increase the specific surface area by forming micro/nanoscale structures remain the effective means to further improve the photocatalytic performance of graphitic carbon nitride (CN). Herein, Mg- and Cl-codoped CN microtubes (MgCl2-CN) were successfully prepared by a hydrothermal reaction of melamine and magnesium chloride. The specific surface area of 1MgCl2-CN is 148.0 m2/g, about 8.3 times that of CN (17.8 m2/g). Meanwhile, Mg and Cl doping narrows the band gap of CN. Under visible light (λ > 420 nm) irradiation, the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1MgCl2-CN reaches 8.4 μmol/h, which is 8.8 times that of CN. The synergistic effect of microtube forming and Mg/Cl doping not only increases the specific surface area, the visible light capture, but also enhances the separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers, thus improving the photocatalytic performance.