Preparation and enhanced visible light photoelectrochemical activity of g-C3N4/ZnO nanotube arrays

• DOI: 10.1007/s10008-014-2563-3
• Publication Date: 2014-07-03T08:43:43Z
• Authors: Juan Wang; Feng-Yun Su; Wei-De Zhang
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 7. Clean energy

Graphite-like carbon nitride particles were deposited onto ZnO nanotube arrays by thermal polycondenzation and the photoelectrochemical energy conversion property of the g-C3N4/ZnO photocathode was investigated. The photocurrent generated by the g-C3N4/ZnO composite photocathode is nearly five times as that of g-C3N4 and ten times as that of ZnO under visible light irradiation at applied potential of +0.40 V vs. Ag/AgCl electrode. The incident photon to electron conversion efficiency is also greatly enhanced after the modification of g-C3N4 nanoparticles onto the ZnO nanotube arrays. In addition, the g-C3N4/ZnO electrode exhibits excellent long-term stability. The matching conduction bands and valence bands of g-C3N4 and ZnO greatly enhanced the separation and transfer of the photogenerated electrons and holes in the composite, thus the photoelectrochemical performance of the g-C3N4/ZnO electrode is improved.