Facile construction of CuFe2O4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst for enhanced visible-light hydrogen evolution

Abstract

A new type of CuFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite photocatalyst has been prepared by a facile one-pot calcination approach using urea and a CuFe₂O₄ gel as precursors. In this composite, CuFe₂O₄ has been finely dispersed in g-C₃N₄ matrix, resulting in a much enhanced efficiency of the CuFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ heterostructure in photocatalytic H₂ production by water splitting, under visible light. A peak H₂ production rate of 76 μmol h⁻¹ has been obtained, which is about 3 times that on pure g-C₃N₄ obtained from urea. This remarkable improvement can be attributed to the enhanced visible light absorbance, enlarged surface area and promoted charge carrier separation and transfer.