The enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4-LaFeO3 for the water reduction reaction through a mediator free Z-scheme mechanism

Abstract

Herein, we disclosed the g-C₃N₄/LaFeO₃ nanocomposite photocatatalyst, a mediator-free direct Z-scheme photocatalytic system, prepared using a mechanical mixing method with reliable interfacial interactions. The nanocomposite formation was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optical properties of the nanohybrids were also characterized using UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The results clearly indicated that the g-C₃N₄/LaFeO₃ nanocomposite was effectively fabricated, with reliable interfacial interactions and a good heterojunction interaction between g-C₃N₄ and LaFeO₃, which can considerably enhance the photocatalytic activity as compared to pristine g-C₃N₄ and LaFeO₃. The high HER (1152 μmol h⁻¹ g⁻¹) was also confirmed by the PL spectra, Mott–Schottky plot, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and solid–solid interfacial interactions.