Three-dimensional TiO2 nanotube arrays combined with g-C3N4 quantum dots for visible light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production

Abstract

A three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured photocatalyst combined with g-C₃N₄ quantum dots (QDs) and a TiO₂ nanotube array (TNA) was fabricated to form a 3D g-C₃N₄/TNA nanocomposite by a facile electro-deposition process. The photocatalytic ability of the 3D g-C₃N₄/TNA was evaluated by measuring the amount of hydrogen generated from water splitting under visible light irradiation. Benefiting from an attractive heterostructure between g-C₃N₄ and TiO₂ leading to a unique photogenerated charge separation, as well as a distinctive 3D well-ordered nanotube structure, this 3D g-C₃N₄/TNA exhibited an average H₂ production of approximately 243 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹, which was approximately 4.7 times higher than that of sole g-C₃N₄ under the same experimental conditions. Therefore, this work could offer a prospective 3D nanostructure for visible light-driven photocatalytic applications.