Graphitied carbon-coated bimetallic FeCu nanoparticles as original g-C3N4 cocatalysts for improving photocatalystic activity

Graphitied carbon-coated bimetallic FeCu nanoparticles (FeCu@C) are fabricated by one-step method for the first time. The FeCu@C as novel cocatalysts of g-C 3 N 4 for improving visible-light photocatalystic hydrogen evolution . The FeCu@C as the cocatalyst of g-C 3 N 4 (FeCu@C/g-C 3 N 4 ) possess better photocatalyst activity (7.22 μmol h −1 ) than that of Fe@C (2.51 μmol h −1 ) and Cu@C (5.36 μmol h −1 ) nanoparticles. The highest photocatalytic activity of FeCu@C/g-C 3 N 4 can be attributed to the synergistic effect of the binary metals and the graphitied carbon layer. The bimetallic cocatalyst is not a simple combination of two metals, but a special electronic effect formed by the interaction between two metals. The Fe acts the catalytic activity center to capture photogenerated carries produced by g-C 3 N 4 , and agglomerates on the surface of FeCu alloys. Simultaneously, the coating of graphitied carbon layer can effectively enhance the stability of FeCu alloy and accelerate electron transfer . It is predicted that this work can provide new ideas and insights for the improvement of photocatalytic activity of semiconductors by non-precious alloy nanoparticles.