TiO2-g-C3N4 composite materials for photocatalytic H2 evolution under visible light irradiation

In this investigation, we report the preparation of TiO₂-g-C₃N₄ composite materials with varying the wt.% of g-C₃N₄, the characterization of these materials by various techniques and photocatalytic hydrogen production under visible light irradiation in the presence of methanol. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) shows that the composite materials are consist of anatase TiO₂ and g-C₃N₄. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra show that the absorbance band intensity of composite materials was stronger than that of C₃N₄. The UV-vis absorption spectra show that the absorption edge of the composite materials shifts to the lower energy region comparing to pure anatase and to longer wavelengths with increasing the amount of C₃N₄. The significant photoluminescence quenching was observed in TiO₂-C₃N₄ composite materials, indicating the charge transfer from C₃N₄ to TiO₂. The visible light induced H₂ evolution rate was remarkably enhanced by coupling TiO₂ with C₃N₄.