A g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ composite as an efficient plasmonic photocatalyst for round-the-clock environmental purification and hydrogen evolution

Here, we demonstrate a g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ composite as a novel efficient self-luminous visible-light plasmonic photocatalyst for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution from water around the clock. The g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ composite was prepared by integrating a g-C3N4@Au plasmonic photocatalyst composite with a SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ long-afterglow phosphor through a simple Pechini-type sol–gel method followed by a mechanical mixing and high-temperature calcination process. Owing to the synergistic effect of surface plasmon resonance of the Au nanoparticles in g-C3N4 and long-lasting phosphorescence of the SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ phosphor, the prepared g-C3N4@Au@SrAl2O4:Eu2+,Dy3+ composite shows a continuous and efficient photocatalytic activity for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and hydrogen evolution from water in a sunless environment. The current research study could provide a new strategy for designing a highly efficient composite photocatalyst for solar environmental purification and hydrogen energy production around the clock.