Ternary g-C₃N₄/NiOOH/Ag nanocomposite photocatalyst with efficient charges separation and high activity for H₂ production

A ternary g-C₃N₄/NiOOH/Ag nanocomposite photocatalyst was synthesized using a combination of chemical and photoreduction methods. Physical, chemical and optical properties of the obtained material were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–Vis diffuse reflection (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies (XPS). The photoactivity of g-C₃N₄/NiOOH/Ag nanocomposite was evaluated for the H₂ production from a water/methanol solution under irradiation with a low intensity UV–Vis lamp. The results showed that photoactivity obtained with the nanocomposite, measured as H₂ yield, was superior than those obtained using bare g-C₃N₄, g-C₃N₄-Ag and g-C₃N₄-Ni as photocatalysts. This increase could be due to the effect of a lower electron-hole recombination rate, derived of an efficient charges separation, and to the synergistic effect between the compounds which integrate the material.