Two dimensional nanoplateletes for water splitting.

Abstract

The subject of this research work is the synthesis and characterization of 2 dimensional (2D) materials (graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4, and layered double hydroxides, LDHs) for applications in energy conversion. g-C3N4 system was synthesised through a simple pyrolysis method with different precursors (thiourea and urea) and temperatures (400, 440, 500, 550, 600 °C). The delamination of the as-synthesised photocatalyst into 2D nanosheets was performed using an ultrasonic treatment to enhance the photocatalytic activity. NiCo-LDH system was also obtained using a co-precipitation method at 90 °C (NiCo LDH). In order to further enhance the catalytic performance of the as-synthesised 2D systems, single atom catalysis was also performed on them. In particular, selected metals (Ni, Co, Cu in the case of g-C3N4 and Ru and Pt for NiCo LDH) were deposited on them with a loading of 0.5 wt%. The crystalline structure of the as-synthesized 2D systems was investigated with X-ray diffraction (XRD) while their morphology was studied through field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). g-C3N4-based samples underwent diffuse reflectance UV-vis spectroscopy to investigate their optical properties. The structure of LDH samples was further assessed through Raman spectroscopy. Finally, the samples were tested for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical water splitting to investigate their catalytic applicability.