Nickel as a co-catalyst for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on graphitic-carbon nitride (sg-CN): what is the nature of the active species?

Abstract

The nature of a nickel-based co-catalyst deposited on a sol–gel prepared porous graphitic-carbon nitride (sg-CN), for photocatalytic H₂ production from water, has been investigated. The formation of the active catalytic species, charge separation and recombination of the photogenerated electrons and holes during photochemical H₂ evolution has been determined for the first time using in situ EPR spectroscopy.