The construction of a 2D-2D heterostructured composite is an efficient method to improve the photocatalytic hydrogen generation capability under visible light. In this work, simple heat treatment of a mixture of g-C3 N4 and delaminated Ti3 C2 was used to prepare a series of d-Ti3 C2 /TiO2 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposites. The d-Ti3 C2 not only acted as the support layer and resource to glue the anatase TiO2 particles and g-C3 N4 layers together but also served as the fast electron transfer channel to improve the photogenerated charge carriers' separation efficiency. By tuning the g-C3 N4 /d-Ti3 C2 mass ratio, heating temperature and soaking time, the d-Ti3 C2 /TiO2 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposite 4-1-350-1 achieved an excellent H2 evolution rate of 1.62 mmol h-1 g-1 driven by a 300 W Xe lamp with a 420 nm cutoff filter. The heterostructured composite photocatalyst was stable even after 3 cycles, representing excellent potential for the practical application in solar energy conversion.
Keywords: 2D materials; graphitic carbon nitride; heterostructured composites; hydrogen evolution; photocatalysis.
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