What is it about?
The Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite photocatalysts with different amounts of Ni(OH)2 (0.5e10 wt%) were prepared, and a synergistic effect of Ni(OH)2 platelets and halloysite nanotubes on physicochemical properties and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of g-C3N4 was investigated. As expected, the Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite photocatalyst prepared with 1 wt% Ni(OH)2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (18.42 mmol h1) which is much higher than that of g-C3N4 (0.43 mmol h1) and Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4 (9.12 mmol h1).
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Why is it important?
The Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite photocatalysts with different amounts of Ni(OH)2 (0.5e10 wt%) were prepared, and a synergistic effect of Ni(OH)2 platelets and halloysite nanotubes on physicochemical properties and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of g-C3N4 was investigated. As expected, the Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite photocatalyst prepared with 1 wt% Ni(OH)2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (18.42 mmol h1) which is much higher than that of g-C3N4 (0.43 mmol h1) and Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4 (9.12 mmol h1).
Perspectives
In summary, a Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite as photocatalyst was developed by combining an easily prepared g- C3N4 with low-cost Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets and inexpensive and earth-abundant halloysite nanotubes. With an optimum Ni(OH)2 amount of 1 wt%, the Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4/halloysite nanocomposite photocatalyst achieved the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate (18.42 mmol h1) in comparison with g-C3N4 (0.43 mmol h1) and Ni(OH)2@g-C3N4 (9.12 mmol h1). As found, the Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets favor an efficient transfer of photogenerated electrons from the g-C3N4 to Ni(OH)2 interface of cocatalyst, while the photogenerated holes are preferably trapped by halloysite nanotubes with a negatively charged surface. According to the molecular dynamics calculations, combining the g-C3N4 with halloysite- 7Å and Ni(OH)2 can significantly improve the adsorption of the water and methanol molecules on the surface of the nanocomposite, leading to the enhanced photocatalytic activity through proton hopping. As a low-cost cocatalyst, Ni(OH)2 nanoplatelets have the possibility to substitute noble metals (e.g., Pt) in the photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Professor Mohammad Mansoob Khan
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
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This page is a summary of: Synergistic effect of g-C3N4, Ni(OH)2 and halloysite in nanocomposite photocatalyst on efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation, Renewable Energy, August 2019, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2019.01.103.
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