Graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes grown on carbon paper for efficientelectrocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction

The growth in population and decreasing sources of energy have been a challenge in recentyears. Among several energy sources, the production of hydrogen from the process of watersplitting has been of interest [۱]. Hydrogen reduction reaction (HER) plays an important role invarious renewable energy devices and fuel cells. Currently, the state-of-the-art HER, catalyst is Pt,but their long-term availability is questionable owing to the scarcity and subsequent high cost.Therefore, substantial efforts have been devoted to developing non-noble transition-metal-basedand metal-free electrocatalysts with commensurate performance. Hydrogen production from waterusing active semiconductor photocatalysts is an attractive solution to increasing energy demand.Recently, graphitic carbon nitride nanotubes (g-C۳N۴ NTs) have drawn considerable attention dueto their unique and tunable nanostructure, good chemical stability,earth-abundant, high nitrogencontent, easy synthesis, and conductivity[۲,۳]. To increase the photocatalytic activity of g-C۳N۴NTs, carbon paper (CP ) has been used to achieve effective photocatalytic for hydrogen production.In this work, g-C۳N۴(NTS) nanocatalyst was synthesized by precursor melamine andCo(NO۳)۲.۶H۲O.In the next step g-C۳N۴(NTS) is used for growing upon CP. The preparednanocatalyst was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and Attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IRS). Several factors that mayaffect the hydrogen release rate process, including the amount of Co, and electrodeposition timewere optimized. The electrochemical diagram indicated that the CP-g-C۳N۴(NTS) provides ahigher specific activity than g-C۳N۴(NTS) and CP. In this study, the CP-g-C۳N۴(NTS) structure isdeveloped as the cost-effective catalytic showing remarkable versatility for HER with highstability and activity, which originates from increased exposure and accessibility of active sites,improved vectorial electron transport capability and enhanced release of gaseous products.

کلیدواژه ها:

Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanotubes ، Carbon Paper ، Hydrogen Evolution Reaction