Facile\nApproach to Synthesize g‑PAN/g‑C₃N₄ Composites with Enhanced Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution\nActivity

Abstract

Novel composites consisting of graphitized\npolyacrylonitrile (g-PAN) nanosheets grown on layered g-C₃N₄ sheets were synthesized through a facile one-step thermal\ncondensation of PAN and melamine for the first time. Photoluminescence\nspectroscopy and the photoelectrochemical measurements reveal that\ng-PAN nanosheets act as effective electron transfer channels to facilitate\ncharge carrier separation in g-PAN/g-C₃N₄ composites.\nThe g-PAN/g-C₃N₄ composites exhibit significantly\nenhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance for H₂ evolution over pristine g-C₃N₄. The 5.0 wt\n% g-PAN/g-C₃N₄ composite has optimal H₂ evolution rate of 37 μmol h^–1, exceeding\n3.8 times over pristine g-C₃N₄. We have proposed\na possible mechanism for charge separation and transfer in the g-PAN/g-C₃N₄ composites to explain the enhanced photocatalytic\nperformance.