Pt clusters in carbon network to enhance photocatalytic CO2 and benzene conversion of WOx/g-C3N4 nanosheets

Noble metals in carbon networks dramatically improve the carrier separation and transfer efficiencies of layered graphic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based heterostructures for efficient CO2 and benzene photocatalytic conversion. Here, Pt clusters are homogeneously incorporated into ultrathin g-C3N4 nanosheets via multi-step treatment method using the combinations of mechano-chemical pre-reaction and two-step thermal condensation processes. Small Pt nanoparticles with diameters of less than 5 nm are observed and WOx nanobelts with increased oxygen vacancies (as the active sites) are horizontally grown on the thin Pt-g-C3N4 nanosheets. The photocatalytic activities of the constructed composite materials are evaluated under full solar spectrum irradiation condition including water splitting, CO2 photoreduction, and benzene to phenol conversion. The WOx/Pt-g-C3N4 nanosheet heterostructures with optimized preparation condition and without adding any co-catalyst reveals enhanced H-2 generation (5267 mu molg(-1)h(-1)) and CO2 photoreduction (5.89 and 3.12 mu molg(-1)h(-1) for CO and CH4 conversion rate, respectively), as well as improved benzene to phenol conversion (89.0%) and selectivity (98.2%). The presence of Pt clusters in the heterostructures improves charge transport in-between g-C3N4 and WOx, thus enhances the charge separation efficiency of the composite material. Detailed photocatalytic mechanisms are discussed on the alteration from S-scheme WOx/g-C3N4 heterostructure to Z-scheme WOx/Pt-g-C3N4 heterostructure.