Hierarchical meso/macro-porous TiO2/graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers with enhanced hydrogen evolution

Xinxin Zou; Yanling Yang; Huajun Chen; Xiao-Lei Shi; Shaoli Song; Zhi-Gang Chen

doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109542

Materials & Design (Apr 2021)

Hierarchical meso/macro-porous TiO2/graphitic carbon nitride nanofibers with enhanced hydrogen evolution

Xinxin Zou,
Yanling Yang,
Huajun Chen,
Xiao-Lei Shi,
Shaoli Song,
Zhi-Gang Chen

Affiliations

Xinxin Zou: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China
Yanling Yang: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China; Corresponding authors.
Huajun Chen: School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Green Preparation and Functionalization for Inorganic Materials, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, PR China; Department of Environment and Chemistry, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, PR China
Xiao-Lei Shi: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia
Shaoli Song: Nuclear Medicine Department, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'an Road, Xuhui district, Shanghai 200032, China; Corresponding authors.
Zhi-Gang Chen: Centre for Future Materials, University of Southern Queensland, Springfield Central, QLD 4300, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia; Corresponding authors.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2021.109542
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 202
p. 109542

Abstract

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Constructing a hierarchical structure with tunable pore size is a practical method to improve the capacity of photocatalytic hydrogen production of catalysts. In this work, titanium dioxide/graphitic carbon nitride (TiO2/g-C3N4) nanofibers with hierarchical meso/macro-porous structure are fabricated by combining a one-step electrospinning method and calcination process, in which the hierarchical meso/macro-porous structure is developed by introducing polyvinylpyrrolidone and liquid paraffin into the electrospinning solution. Comprehensive characterizations reveal that the hierarchical meso/macro-porous TiO2/g-C3N4 nanofibers have improved ultraviolet-visible light absorption, the separation efficiency of carriers, and photocatalytic performance. The photocatalytic H2 evolution is up to 1202 μmol g−1 in 7 h, which is better than those of corresponding TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalysts previously reported. This work provides a new strategy to build a hierarchical meso/macro-porous nanofiber and an ideal solution to improve the hydrogen production of TiO2/g-C3N4.

Published in Materials & Design

ISSN: 0264-1275 (Print); 1873-4197 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering: Materials of engineering and construction. Mechanics of materials
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/materials-and-design

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