Synthesis of a Cu2−xSe/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution

The Cu 2−x Se/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction was successfully constructed using a one-step method and employed to photocatalytic H 2 evolution from water for the first time. The optimal Cu 2−x Se/g-C 3 N 4 -10 wt% exhibits an efficient H 2 evolution rate of 1954.9 μmol·g −1 ·h −1 , which is nearly 2.2 and 18.6 times higher than that of the pristine Cu 2−x Se and g-C 3 N 4 . This could owe to the improved light capturing ability, abundant active sites, efficient charge carriers’ separation for the appropriate band gap structures between Cu 2−x Se and g-C 3 N 4 . In addition, a photocatalytic H 2 production mechanism over Cu 2−x Se/g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction is analyzed based on the investigation on energy band structures and photoelectric properties of the components.