A novel photoanode based on Thorium oxide (ThO2) incorporated with graphitic Carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for Photoelectrochemical water splitting
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-15-2021
Abstract
In this study, a new insight into the doping engineering with nuclear fuel (ThO2) was performed and applied in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The successfully synthesized g-C3N4/ThO2 (-5.8%) via thermal treatment and g-C3N4 polymerization (precursor: Urea, 30 min; 520 C) manifested a remarkable and superior photocatalytic activity. The photocurrent density achieved for g-C3N4/ThO2 was 9.71 mu cm(-2) at 1.23 V vs. Ag/ AgCl under simulated light (100 mW/cm(2)) that is more than twice compared with the un-doped g-C3N4 (-4.23 mu A cm(-2)). The introduction of Thorium Nitrate during g-C3N4 polymerization altered the chemical bonding, structure, and morphology, with the improved PEC stability of the photoanode. Besides, doping with ThO2 increased the intensity of triazine and C-N bond in the g-C3N4 network, as observed by FT-IR analysis. The unique ``hollow cylindrical'' architecture also increased the surface area, light absorption, as well as the catalytic sites. The enhanced separation of photo-generated electron-hole pairs reduced the carrier recombination that was obviously probed via Photoluminescence spectra. Therefore, due to the photostability and the good performance, the g-C3N4/ThO2 composite can be envisioned as a potential candidate in the field of photocatalysis and prospectively be applied in PEC solar water splitting.
Keywords
Graphitic Carbon Nitride, Thorium Oxide, Doping, Thin film, Photoelectrochemical (PEC)
Divisions
nanocat
Funders
Universiti Malaya [DIP-2020-022],Universiti Malaya [GUP-2020-073],Universiti Malaya RU [001-2020],UKM Centre for Research and Instrumentation (CRIM)
Publication Title
Applied Surface Science
Volume
569
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher Location
RADARWEG 29, 1043 NX AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS