Generation of Hydrogen Gas Using CuCr(2)O(4)-g-C(3)N(4) Nanocomposites under Illumination by Visible Light

[Image: see text] In this research, nanocomposites made of CuCr(2)O(4)-g-C(3)N(4) accommodating distinct contents of CuCr(2)O(4) (1–4 wt %) nanoparticles (NPs) were endorsed for hydrogen gas production after illumination by visible light in the presence of aqueous glycerol solution. The ultrasonication-mixture method was applied to assure the homogeneous distribution of CuCr(2)O(4) NPs over synthesized mesoporous g-C(3)N(4). Such nanocomposites possess suppressed recombination between the photoinduced charges. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy examinations affirmed the formation of CuCr(2)O(4)-g-C(3)N(4) heterojunctions. The separation between the induced charges and the photocatalytic performance with the CuCr(2)O(4) NP amount were investigated. The CuCr(2)O(4)-g-C(3)N(4) heterojunction of 3 wt % CuCr(2)O(4) content was documented as the optimal heterojunction. Upgraded hydrogen gas generation was attained over the optimal heterojunction with the extent of ten and thirty times as those registered for pure CuCr(2)O(4) and g-C(3)N(4) specimens, respectively, under illumination by visible light. The photocatalytic performance acquired by the diverse synthesized specimens was assessed not only by their effectiveness to absorb light in the visible region but also by their potential to separate the photoinduced charges.