Photocatalytic activity of nanostructured composites based on layered niobates and C3N4 in the hydrogen evolution reaction from electron donor solutions under visible light

Nanostructured composites based on layered niobates KNb3O8, K3H3Nb10.8O30 and HNb3O8 as well as C3N4 were obtained. It was established that the rate of hydrogen evolution from electron donors water solutions under visible light using composites niobate/C3N4 as photocatalysts significantly exceeds the rate value for an individual C3N4. This phenomenon was explained by an effective separation of photogenerated charges between the components of the composite and thus a decrease of the electron-hole recombination. Transition from an individual C3N4 to the composites niobate/C3N4 allows significantly extend the list of an effective electron donor compounds for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution process. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.