Fabrication of hollow g-C3N4@α-Fe2O3/Co-Pi heterojunction spheres with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic water splitting activity.

For the first time, g-C 3 N 4 @α-Fe 2 O 3 /Co-Pi heterojunctional hollow spheres were successfully fabricated via thermal condensation method followed by solvothermal and photo-deposition treatment, which showed excellent photocatalytical property. Except for the Z-scheme charge transfer between α-Fe 2 O 3 and g-C 3 N 4 , the Co-Pi could further reduce the combination of photogenerated electrons and holes as a hole storage agent, resulting in remarkably enhanced visible-light photocatalytic water splitting activity with the H 2 production rate of 450 μmol h−1g−1, which is 15.7 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4. Moreover, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared ternary hollow photocatalysts showed almost no significant weakness after five cycles, which indicated their good performance stability. The as-prepared g-C 3 N 4 @α-Fe 2 O 3 /Co-Pi also possessed good activity for overall water splitting with the hydrogen production rate reaching 9.8 μmol h−1g−1. This synthesized g-C 3 N 4 @α-Fe 2 O 3 /Co-Pi composite is expected to be a promising candidate for water splitting. Image 1 • Hollow g-C 3 N 4 @α-Fe 2 O 3 /Co-Pi (CFP) heterojunction spheres are fabricated. • CFP enhances visible-light photocatalytic activity for water splitting. • H 2 production rate of CFP is 15.7 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4. • The ternary hollow photocatalysts have good performance stability. • Z-Scheme system forms between g-C 3 N 4 and α-Fe 2 O 3 , Co-Pi acts as hole storage agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]