g-C3N4/Sn3O4 photoanode for H2 production: A promising photoelectrocatalyst for renewable energy generation

Autor(es)

Romeiro, Fernanda da Costa ; Perini, Joao Angelo Lima ; Zanoni, Maria Valnice Boldrin ; Orlandi, Marcelo Ornaghi

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY; v. 450, p. 9-pg., 2024-01-18.

Resumo

Developing sunlight -driven catalysts is an attractive strategy for conversion of solar energy into chemical fuel. This work describes the synthesis of g-C3N4/Sn3O4 photoanodes by a microwave -assisted hydrothermal method, for hydrogen (H2) generation. The structural analysis of the materials was investigated using XRD, Raman and FTIR spectroscopies. The chemical composition and valence state were analyzed using XPS, while the morphologies were characterized through FESEM and TEM. The magnitude of absorption for the g-C3N4/Sn3O4 sample increased as observed using UV-Vis. An excellent H2 production of 0.49 mmol/L within 3 h, at 0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl, was achieved using the g-C3N4/Sn3O4 heterostructure as a photoanode, which was nearly 4.4 and 4.8 times higher, respectively, compared to the H2 production obtained using g-C3N4 and Sn3O4 individually. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) results demonstrated that the g-C3N4/Sn3O4 photoanode presented higher charge carrier mobility and photocurrent density, compared to the individual materials. The optimal heterostructure exhibited a solar -to -hydrogen (STH) energy conversion efficiency of 0.49 %, as well as high stability. The success of the heterostructure could be ascribed to the interfacial contact between the g-C3N4 and Sn3O4 semiconductors, with photogenerated electrons flowing from the g-C3N4 to the Sn3O4 surface, minimizing electron/hole pair recombination. This work provides a reference for the design of heterostructures composed of Sn3O4 joined to carbon -based materials that can provide high performance in H2 generation. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 17/24839-0 - Eletrônica e eletroquímica em escala nanométrica: fundamentos e aplicações
• Beneficiário: Paulo Roberto Bueno
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 19/18856-5 - Aplicações foto(eletro)químicas visando a produção de combustíveis renováveis utilizando nanocompósitos baseados em óxidos de estanho (SnO e Sn3O4) e compostos de carbono (óxido de grafeno reduzido e nitreto de carbono grafítico)
• Beneficiário: Fernanda da Costa Romeiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 14/50945-4 - INCT 2014: Instituto Nacional de Tecnologias Alternativas para Detecção, Avaliação Toxicológica e Remoção de Micropoluentes e Radioativos
• Beneficiário: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Centro de Desenvolvimento de Materiais Funcionais
• Beneficiário: Elson Longo da Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 16/18057-7 - Redução de CO2 visando à geração de compostos de valor agregado por fotocatálise/fotoeletrocatálise utilizando líquido iônico em reator pressurizado
• Beneficiário: João Angelo de Lima Perini
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado