Abstract
Hydrogen production over a heterogeneous photocatalyst employing visible light is a favorable approach for renewable and sustainable clean energy in large scale. In this contribution, CuS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites have been constructed through a hydrothermal approach at various CuS contents. XRD diffraction findings exhibited that hexagonal CuS was successfully formed and incorporated onto the g-C3N4. TEM images exhibited that CuS nanoparticles are orderly dispersed onto g-C3N4 nanosheet with a spherical shape. The photocatalytic performance of the obtained CuS/g-C3N4 nanocomposites was assessed in the presence of glycerol as holes scavenger for H-2 production under visible light illumination. The photocatalytic activity for H-2 production was promoted by boosting the CuS contents, and it was increased up to the maximum molecular H-2 production value of 12,000 mu mol g(-1) using 10% CuS/g-C3N4 nanocomposite. The H-2 yield is higher similar to 20 and 30 times than either g-C3N4 or CuS. Moreover, H-2 production yield increases to 16,000 mu mol g(-1) with the increase the loading of 10% CuS/g-C3N4 photocatalyst and it is higher similar to 26 and 40 times than either g-C3N4 or CuS, respectively. The 10% CuS/g-C3N4 nanocomposite indicated stability and durability after five times cycles through visible light illumination.