A g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ composite as an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst for round-the-clock environmental purification and hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Here, we demonstrate a g-C₃N₄@Au@SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ composite as a novel efficient self-luminous visible-light plasmonic photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution from water around the clock. The g-C₃N₄@Au@SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ composite was prepared by integrating a g-C₃N₄@Au plasmonic photocatalyst composite with a SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ long-afterglow phosphor through a simple Pechini-type sol–gel method followed by a mechanical mixing and high-temperature calcination process. Owing to the synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance of the Au nanoparticles in g-C₃N₄ and long-lasting phosphorescence of the SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ phosphor, the prepared g-C₃N₄@Au@SrAl₂O₄:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ composite shows a continuous and efficient photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution from water in a sunless environment. The current research study could provide a new strategy for designing a highly efficient composite photocatalyst for solar environmental purification and hydrogen energy production around the clock.