Fabrication of a full-spectrum-response Cu2(OH)2CO3/g-C3N4 heterojunction catalyst with outstanding photocatalytic H2O2 production performance via a self-sacrificial method

Abstract

Over the past few decades, near infrared light (NIR), as an important part of sunlight, has seldom been utilized in photocatalytic reactions. In this work, a full-spectrum-response Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst with outstanding photocatalytic H₂O₂ production performance was synthesized. XRD, UV-Vis, N₂ adsorption, XPS, PL, EIS and EPR are used to characterize the as-prepared catalysts. As a light absorber from UV to NIR, Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃ can form more photogenerated electrons to recombine the holes in g-C₃N₄ through the “Z-scheme” mechanism. The as-prepared Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst shows the H₂O₂ equilibrium concentration of 8.9 mmol L⁻¹, over 16 and 26.9 times higher than that of neat g-C₃N₄ and Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃. According to the Z-scheme mechanism, a “two channel route” to form H₂O₂ is proposed for the Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃/g-C₃N₄ heterojunction catalyst.