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Two series of bimetallic photocatalysts (0.5% Pt/0.01–0.5% IrOx/g-C3N4 and 0.1% Pt/0.01–0.1% IrOx/g-C3N4) were synthesized by the thermolysis of melamine cyanurate and a successive deposition of platinum and iridium labile complexes (Me4N)2[Pt2(μ-OH)2(NO3)8] and fac-[Ir(H2O)3(NO2)3. The synthesized photocatalysts were studied by a set of physicochemical analysis techniques. Platinum exists in two states, with up to 60% in metallic form and the rest in the Pt2+ state, while iridium is primarily oxidized to the Ir3+ state, which was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The specific surface area (SBET), which is determined by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, ranges from 80 to 100 m2 g−1 and the band gap energy (Eg) value is in the range of 2.75–2.80 eV as found by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The activity of the photocatalysts was tested in the photocatalytic production of hydrogen from ultrapure water under visible light (λ = 400 nm). It was found that the splitting of water occurs with the formation of the stochiometric amount of H2O2 as an oxidation product. Two photocatalysts 0.5% Pt/0.01% IrOx/g-C3N4 and 0.1% Pt/0.01% IrOx/g-C3N4 showed the highest activity at 100 μmol h−1 gcat−1, which is among the highest in H2 production published for such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic CO2 reduction and the production of hydrogen are urgent tasks of green energy. One of the most studied semiconductor photocatalysts for this purpose is titanium dioxide. However, it has a number of fundamental limitations that do not allow its application for such tasks on an industrial scale. Another class of promising materials, which is being investigated very actively, are two-dimensional materials based on MXenes. In this work, we present the first results on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and CO2 reduction using TiNbC/TiO2 heterostructures with TiNbC contents of 1, 5, and 10%. The approach to the creation of heterostructures proposed in this work may become a significant breakthrough in the search for new highly efficient systems for carbon dioxide reduction and hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 have been investigated in the CO2 reduction reaction under visible light irradiation (λ = 397, 427, 452 nm). Photocatalysts were prepared by melamine calcination at 500–600 °C with further platinum deposition (0.1–1.0 wt.%). The effect of the preparation conditions of g-C3N4 and the method of platinum deposition on the physicochemical properties and activity of photocatalysts was studied. The photocatalysts were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and low temperature nitrogen adsorption techniques. It has been found that the efficiency of CO2 reduction is governed by the surface area of g-C3N4 and the presence of platinum in the metallic state, while the optimal content of platinum is 0.5 wt. %. The highest rate of CO2 reduction achieved over Pt/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is 13.2 µmol h−1 g−1 (397 nm), which exceeds the activity of pristine g-C3N4 by 7 times. The most active photocatalysts was prepared by calcining melamine in air at 600 °C, followed by modification with platinum (0.5 wt.%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the synthesis of active photocatalysts for the evolution of hydrogen, including photocatalysts based on graphite-like carbon nitride, is an acute issue. In this review, a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art studies of graphic carbon nitride as a photocatalyst for hydrogen production under visible light is presented. In this review, various approaches to the synthesis of photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 reported in the literature were considered, including various methods for modifying and improving the structural and photocatalytic properties of this material. A thorough analysis of the literature has shown that the most commonly used methods for improving g-C3N4 properties are alterations of textural characteristics by introducing templates, pore formers or pre-treatment method, doping with heteroatoms, modification with metals, and the creation of composite photocatalysts. Next, the authors considered their own detailed study on the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride with different pre-treatments and respective photocatalysts that demonstrate high efficiency and stability in photocatalytic production of hydrogen. Particular attention was paid to describing the effect of the state of the platinum cocatalyst on the activity of the resulting photocatalyst. The decisive factors leading to the creation of active materials were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two types of photocatalysts, 1%Pt/Cd1−xZnxS/g-C3N4 (x = 0.2–0.3) and Cd1−xZnxS/1%Pt/g-C3N4 (x = 0.2–0.3), were synthesized by varying the deposition order of platinum, and a solid solution of cadmium and zinc sulfides onto the surface of g-C3N4. The characterization of photocatalysts showed that, for 1%Pt/Cd1−xZnxS/g-C3N4, small platinum particles were deposited onto a solid solution of cadmium and zinc sulfides; in the case of Cd1−xZnxS/1%Pt/g-C3N4, enlarged platinum clusters were located on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride. Based on the structure of the photocatalysts, we assumed that, in the first case, type II heterojunctions and, in the latter case, S-scheme heterojunctions were realized. The activity of the synthesized samples was tested in hydrogen evolution from triethanolamine (TEOA) basic solution under visible light (λ = 450 nm). A remarkable increase in hydrogen evolution rate compared to single-phase platinized 1%Pt/Cd1−xZnxS photocatalysts was observed only in the case of ternary photocatalysts with platinum located on the g-C3N4 surface, Cd1−xZnxS/1%Pt/g-C3N4. Thus, we proved using kinetic experiments and characterization techniques that, for composite photocatalysts based on Cd1−xZnxS and g-C3N4, the formation of the S-scheme mechanism is more favorable than that for type II heterojunction. The highest activity, 2.5 mmol H2 g−1 h−1, with an apparent quantum efficiency equal to 6.0% at a wavelength of 450 nm was achieved by sample 20% Cd0.8Zn0.2S/1% Pt/g-C3N4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the synthesis of active photocatalysts for the evolution of hydrogen, including photocatalysts based on graphite-like carbon nitride, is an acute issue. In this review, a comprehensive analysis of the state-of-the-art studies of graphic carbon nitride as a photocatalyst for hydrogen production under visible light is presented. In this review, various approaches to the synthesis of photocatalysts based on g-C 3 N 4 reported in the literature were considered, including various methods for modifying and improving the structural and photocatalytic properties of this material. A thorough analysis of the literature has shown that the most commonly used methods for improving g-C 3 N 4 properties are alterations of textural characteristics by introducing templates, pore formers or pre-treatment method, doping with heteroatoms, modification with metals, and the creation of composite photocatalysts. Next, the authors considered their own detailed study on the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride with different pre-treatments and respective photocatalysts that demonstrate high efficiency and stability in photocatalytic production of hydrogen. Particular attention was paid to describing the effect of the state of the platinum cocatalyst on the activity of the resulting photocatalyst. The decisive factors leading to the creation of active materials were discussed.

Ternary composite photocatalysts based on titania and solid solutions of CdS and ZnS were prepared and studied by a set of physicochemical methods including XRD, XPS, HRTEM, UV-vis spectroscopy, and electrochemical tests. Two synthetic techniques of platinization of Cd 1- x Zn x S/TiO 2 were compared. In the first case, platinum was deposited on the surface of synthesized Cd 1- x Zn x S ( x = 0.2-0.3)/TiO 2 P25; in the second one, Cd 1- x Zn x S ( x = 0.2-0.3) was deposited on the surface of Pt/TiO 2 P25. The photocatalytic properties of the obtained samples were compared in the hydrogen evolution from TEOA aqueous solution under visible light ( λ = 425 nm). The Cd 1- x Zn x S (10-50 wt%; x = 0.2-0.3)/Pt (1 wt%)/TiO 2 photocatalysts demonstrated much higher photocatalytic activity than the Pt (1 wt%)/Cd 1- x Zn x S (10-50 wt%; x = 0.2-0.3)/TiO 2 ones. It turned out that the arrangement of platinum nanoparticles precisely on the titanium dioxide surface in a composite photocatalyst makes it possible to achieve efficient charge separation according to the type II heterojunctions and, accordingly, a high rate of hydrogen formation. The highest photocatalytic activity was demonstrated by 20% Cd 0.8 Zn 0.2 S/1% Pt/TiO 2 in the amount of 26 mmol g -1 h -1 (apparent quantum efficiency was 7.7%) that exceeds recently published values for this class of photocatalysts., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Photocatalysts based on zinc hydroxide and a solid solution of CdS and ZnS were prepared via the precipitation method and used for photocatalytic hydrogen production from aqueous solutions of inorganic (Na 2 S/Na 2 SO 3 ) and organic (ethanol) sacrificial agents. The photocatalysts were tested in cyclic experiments for hydrogen evolution and studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. Different transformations of the β-Zn(OH) 2 co-catalyst were observed in the presence of inorganic and organic sacrificial agents; namely, ZnS was formed in Na 2 S/Na 2 SO 3 solution, whereas the formation of ε-Zn(OH) 2 was detected in solution with ethanol. The composite Zn(OH) 2 /Cd 1- x Zn x S photocatalysts have great potential in various photocatalysis processes ( e.g. , hydrogen production, CO 2 reduction, and the oxidation of organic contaminants) under visible light., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)