The g-C3N4 nanosheets decorated by plasmonic Au nanoparticles: A heterogeneous electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction enhanced by sunlight illumination

Surface Plasmon Resonance Induced Photocatalysis in 2D/2D Graphene/g-C3N4 Heterostructure for Enhanced Degradation of Amine-Based Pharmaceuticals under Solar Light Illumination

Pharmaceuticals, especially amine-based pharmaceuticals, such as nizatidine and ranitidine, contaminate water and resist water treatment. Here, different amounts of graphene sheets are coupled with g-C3N4 nanosheets (wt% ratio of 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 wt% of graphene) to verify the effect of surface plasmon resonance introduced to the g-C3N4 material. The synthesized materials were systematically examined by advanced analytical techniques. The prepared photocatalysts were used for the degradation of amine-based pharmaceuticals (nizatidine and ranitidine). The results show that by introducing only 3 wt% graphene to g-C3N4, the absorption ability in the visible and near-infrared regions dramatically enhanced. The absorption in the visible range was 50 times higher when compared to the pure sample. These absorption features suggest that the surfaces of the carbon nitride sheet are covered by the graphene nanosheet, which would effectively apply the LSPR properties for catalytic determinations. The enhancement in visible light absorption in the composite was confirmed by PL analysis, which showed greater inhibition of the electron-hole recombination process. The XRD showed a decrease in the (002) plan due to the presence of graphene, which prevents further stacking of carbon nitride layers. Accordingly, the Gr/g-C3N4 composite samples exhibited an enhancement in the photocatalytic performance, specifically for the 5% Gr/g-C3N4 sample, and close to 85% degradation was achieved within 20 min under solar irradiation. Therefore, applying the Gr/g-C3N4 for the degradation of a pharmaceutical can be taken into consideration as an alternative method for the removal of such pollutants during the water treatment process. This enhancement can be attributed to surface plasmon resonance-induced photocatalysis in a 2D/2D graphene/g-C3N4 heterostructure.

Advances in Hybrid Composites for Photocatalytic Applications: A Review

Heterogeneous photocatalysts have garnered extensive attention as a sustainable way for environmental remediation and energy storage process. Water splitting, solar energy conversion, and pollutant degradation are examples of nowadays applications where semiconductor-based photocatalysts represent a potentially disruptive technology. The exploitation of solar radiation for photocatalysis could generate a strong impact by decreasing the energy demand and simultaneously mitigating the impact of anthropogenic pollutants. However, most of the actual photocatalysts work only on energy radiation in the Near-UV region (<400 nm), and the studies and development of new photocatalysts with high efficiency in the visible range of the spectrum are required. In this regard, hybrid organic/inorganic photocatalysts have emerged as highly potential materials to drastically improve visible photocatalytic efficiency. In this review, we will analyze the state-of-art and the developments of hybrid photocatalysts for energy storage and energy conversion process as well as their application in pollutant degradation and water treatments.

Plasmon-enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution based on tannic acid–platinum film functionalized gold nanoparticles

A tannic acid–platinum self-assembled complex modified on gold nanocomposites exhibited plasmon-enhanced electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction performance.

Ni(ii) dithiolate anion composites with two-dimensional materials for electrochemical oxygen evolution reactions (OERs)

A redox active anionic nickel dithiolate complex was synthesized and its composites with GO, rGO and GN were prepared and used as electrocatalyts in the OER.

Constructing Conductive Channels between Platinum Nanoparticles and Graphitic Carbon Nitride by Gamma Irradiation for an Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Electrocatalytic performance of low-cost graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) is greatly limited by its conductivity. In this work, an innovative method, gamma irradiation technology, was used to efficiently synthesize g-C₃N₄/Pt nanoparticle (CN/Pt) nanocomposites, which can construct conductive channels between the nanostructure g-C₃N₄ and supported platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs). Then, the as-prepared CN/Pt nanocomposites were applied in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as an electrocatalyst, which shows a small Tafel slope and the fast four-electron transfer path in the ORR. The oxygen reduction performance over the CN/Pt nanocomposite is much superior to that of the commercial Pt/C and mostly reported in g-C₃N₄-based electrodes. Experimental results have confirmed the fast charge transfer between PtNPs and g-C₃N₄ through a metal-support interaction, and using gamma irradiation technique to disperse PtNPs on g-C₃N₄ proves to be an effective strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of g-C₃N₄ in ORR. Therefore, gamma irradiation may possess great potential for preparing CN/Pt nanocomposites as a highly efficient ORR catalyst.