Prussian blue derived Fe2N for efficiently improving the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of g-C3N4 nanosheets

Abstract

Transition metal nitrides have been recognized as excellent hydrogen evolution electrocatalysts and therefore are promising alternative co-catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production. Herein, iron nitride (Fe₂N) nanoparticles have been prepared by using MOFs as sacrificial precursors. A novel g-C₃N₄–Fe₂N nanostructure has been fabricated by an electrostatic self-assembly method at room temperature for photocatalytic H₂ evolution. MOF-derived Fe₂N nanoparticles as co-catalysts can promote photo-generated charge-carrier transportation/separation and decrease the overpotential of H₂-evolution. Therefore, the optimal g-C₃N₄–Fe₂N nanocomposite exhibits an obviously improved H₂ evolution rate of 88.7 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is almost 48 times higher than that of pure g-C₃N₄ nanosheets.