Cobalt-doped graphitic carbon nitride for hydrogen production under visible light

Herein, we reported the synthesis of cobalt (Co)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Co@g-C3N4) and its application in photocatalytic H-2 production. The formation, phase, crystalline nature, surface morphology, and elemental composition of the Co@g-C3N4 have been examined by XRD, SEM, XPS, and EDX spectroscopy. The platinum has been introduced as a cocatalyst and Co@g-C3N4/Pt (3 wt%) exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance towards the generation of H-2. The synthesized Co@g-C3N4/Pt (3 wt%) material exhibited a significant amount of H-2 production rate of 6347 mu mol/g surpassing that of Co@g-C3N4 in the presence of TEOA sacrificial agent. The improved photocatalytic performance of the synthesized photocatalyst can be attributed to the synergistic interaction and Schottky barrier formation among Pt, Co, and g-C3N4, facilitating efficient charge separation and transportation of photo-induced charge carriers. This study has the potential to open up new avenues for addressing energy and environmental challenges through H-2 production.