Enhancement of photocurrent and photocatalytic activity of ZnO hybridized with graphite-like C3N4

Abstract

A ZnO photocatalyst was hybridized with graphite-like C3N4via a monolayer-dispersed method. After hybridization with C3N4, the photocurrent of ZnO was enhanced by 5 times under UV irradiation and a photocurrent under visible light irradiation was observed. The photocatalytic activity of C3N4/ZnO under UV irradiation was increased by 3.5 times, the visible light photocatalytic activity was generated and the photocorrosion of ZnO was suppressed completely after ZnO was hybridized with C3N4. The enhancement in performance and photocorrosion inhibition under UV irradiation was induced by the high separation efficiency of photoinduced holes from ZnO to the HOMO of C3N4. Under visible light irradiation, the electron excited from the HOMO to the LUMO of C3N4 could directly inject into the CB of ZnO, making C3N4/ZnO present visible light photocatalytic activity. The optimum synergetic effect of C3N4/ZnO was found at a weight ratio of 3%, which corresponded to a monolayer dispersion of C3N4 on the surface of ZnO.