Pt/g-C₃N₄ Nanosheet for Visible Light-Induced Enhancement of the Activity for Formic Acid Electro-oxidation

Authors

Yong-rong SUN, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;
Chun-yu DU, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;Follow
Guo-kang HAN, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;
Ya-jing WANG, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;
Yun-zhi GAO, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;
Ge-ping YIN, Institute of Advanced Chemical Power Sources, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China;

Corresponding Author

Chun-yu DU(cydu@hit.edu.cn)

Abstract

By using graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (g-C₃N₄ nanosheet) as a support，Pt/g-C₃N₄ nanosheet catalyst was fabricated by microwave assisted polylol process. The nanoparticles size，composition，structure and optical properties of Pt/g-C₃N₄ nanosheet were characterized by TEM，XRD，XPS and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Comparing with the catalytic activities toward formic acid electro-oxidation under dark and visible light illumination，the superior activity of Pt/g-C₃N₄ nanosheet catalyst was achieved under visible light illumination. This visible light-driven enhancement in the formic acid performance could be attributed to the plasmon-induced electron-hole separation on g-C₃N₄ with visible light illumination. The photo-generated hot electron promoted the oxidation of formic acid molecules. The current density of g-C₃N₄ nanosheet was increased under visible light illumination in the presence of formic acid. More importantly，the fast electron transfer from Pt to g-C₃N₄ nanosheet under visible light illumination adjusted the electronic structure of Pt. The “electron deficient” state of Pt could weaken the adsorption energy of CO (as a poisoning species)，facilitating CO oxidation. The rapid removal of poisoning species on Pt would provide more catalytic activity sites for the oxidation of formic acid，enhancing formic acid catalytic activity. The visible light-assisted enhancement in the electrochemical formic acid activity provides a development strategy for direct formic acid fuel cells.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

graphitic carbon nitride, Pt nanoparticles, visible light, formic acid electro-oxidation

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.170627

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2018-06-28

Online Available Date

2017-09-29

Revised Date

2017-09-20

Received Date

2017-06-27

Recommended Citation

Yong-rong SUN, Chun-yu DU, Guo-kang HAN, Ya-jing WANG, Yun-zhi GAO, Ge-ping YIN. Pt/g-C₃N₄ Nanosheet for Visible Light-Induced Enhancement of the Activity for Formic Acid Electro-oxidation[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2018 , 24(3): 262-269.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.170627
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol24/iss3/8