Green synthesis of g-C3N4-Pt catalyst and application to photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water splitting

The g-C3N4-Pt photocatalyst was successfully prepared by the combination of a biosynthesis method and sol deposition, which were used for hydrogen evolution from water splitting. The layers of g-C3N4 are thinned and the Pt nanoparticles simultaneously become tightly bound to g-C3N4 by secondary calcination in the process of synthesizing the g-C3N4-Pt photocatalyst. Analysis of the morphological structure and instrumental characterization of the optical performance revealed that the Pt nanoparticles were successfully loaded and well dispersed on the surface of g-C3N4. Furthermore, the absorption wavelength range of the g-C3N4-Pt photocatalyst in visible light was widened and the absorption increased. The activity and photostability of the g-C3N4-Pt photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation (λ≥420 nm) were excellent. The rate of H2 evolution reached 582.4 μmol h−1 g−1, and the quantum efficiency (QE) reached 2.70% at 420 nm.