Bio-inspired Z-scheme g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)CrO(4) for efficient visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen generation

Due to low charge separation efficiency and poor stability, it is usually difficult for single-component photocatalysts such as graphitic carbon nitride (g-C(3)N(4)) and silver chromate (Ag(2)CrO(4)) to fulfill photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiently. Z-scheme charge transport mechanism that mimics the photosynthesis in nature is an effective way to solve the above problems. Inspired by photosynthesis, we report Ag(2)CrO(4) nanoparticles-decorated g-C(3)N(4) nanosheet as an efficient photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) with methanol as sacrificial agent. The formation of Z-scheme g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)CrO(4) nanosheets photocatalysts could inhibit the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, promote the generation of hydrogen by photosplitting of water. The experiment results indicate that g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)CrO(4) nanocomposites present enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability in the H(2) evolution of water splitting. And the nanocomposites g-C(3)N(4)/Ag(2)CrO(4)(23.1%) show the 14 times HER efficiency compared to that of bare g-C(3)N(4).