Facile approach to synthesize g-PAN/g-C3N4 composites with enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution activity

Novel composites consisting of graphitized polyacrylonitrile (g-PAN) nanosheets grown on layered g-C3N4 sheets were synthesized through a facile one-step thermal condensation of PAN and melamine for the first time. Photoluminescence spectroscopy and the photoelectrochemical measurements reveal that g-PAN nanosheets act as effective electron transfer channels to facilitate charge carrier separation in g-PAN/g-C3N4 composites. The g-PAN/g-C3N4 composites exhibit significantly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance for H2 evolution over pristine g-C3N4. The 5.0 wt % g-PAN/g-C3N4 composite has optimal H2 evolution rate of 37 μmol h(-1), exceeding 3.8 times over pristine g-C3N4. We have proposed a possible mechanism for charge separation and transfer in the g-PAN/g-C3N4 composites to explain the enhanced photocatalytic performance.