Synthesis of carbon black/carbon nitride intercalation compound composite for efficient hydrogen production

Abstract

The photoactivity of g-C₃N₄ is greatly limited by its high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers. Coupling g-C₃N₄ with other materials has been demonstrated to be an effective way to facilitate the separation and transport of charge carriers. Herein we report a composite of conductive carbon black and carbon nitride intercalation compound synthesized through facile one-step molten salt method. The as-prepared carbon black/carbon nitride intercalation compound composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-vis absorption spectrum and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The carbon black nanoparticles, homogeneously dispersed on the surface of carbon nitride intercalation compound, efficiently enhanced separation and transport of photogenerated carriers, thus improving the visible-light photocatalytic activity. The composite of 0.5 wt% carbon black and carbon nitride intercalation compound exhibited a H₂ production rate of 68.9 μmol h⁻¹, which is about 3.2 times higher than hydrogen production on pristine carbon nitride intercalation compound.