g-C3N4 photoanode for photoelectrocatalytic synergistic pollutant degradation and hydrogen evolution

Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) technique for hydrogen evolution from water splitting and pollutant degradation is one of the most sustainable and environmental approaches for wastewater treatment and energy regeneration. Herein, a porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/reduction graphene oxide (rGO) structure (CNG) is constructed via a solvothermal approach. By using a facile electrophoretic deposition method, CNG is deposited on nickel (Ni) foam with the formation of highly active CNG-Ni foam photoanode. rGO were utilized to load g-C3N4, and also acts as the bridge for accelerating the rate of electron transfer from g-C3N4 to Ni foam. The resulted photoanode exhibits an excellent photoelectrochemical performance for synergistic pollutant degradation and H2 evolution under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm). Such excellent PEC activity is attributed to the strong visible-light absorption and fast electron transmission of the as-obtained photoanode. The visible light-driven photocurrent value of the optimal photoanode can be well maintained up to 24 h, indicating its high stability during the PEC process. This work also shows significance for paving a facile route to fabricating highly active photoelectrodes for environmental and energy applications.