α-NiS/g-C₃N₄ Nanocomposites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Abstract

α-NiS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were synthesized and used for photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation. The fabricated nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, XPS, SEM, TEM, UV-vis DRS, TRPL, and PEC measurements. Photocatalytic studies show that the hydrogen generation rate of the 15%-α-NiS/g-C3N4 nanocomposite reaches 4025 μmol·g−1·h−1 and TC degradation rate 64.6% within 120 min, both of which are higher than that of g-C3N4. The enhanced performance of the nanocomposite is attributed to the formation of a heterojunction between α-NiS and g-C3N4 that enhances visible light absorption, promotes the separation and transfer of charges, and inhibits the recombination of carriers. The photocatalytic mechanism of the α-NiS/g-C3N4 heterojunction nanocomposite is discussed in terms of relevant energy levels and charge transfer processes.

Keywords

• photocatalysis
• g-C₃N₄
• surface modification
• photodegradation
• hydrogen evolution