MoO₃/S@g-C₃N₄ Nanocomposite Structures: Synthesis, Characterization, and Hydrogen Catalytic Performance

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Catalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Growing demand for clean energy necessitates alternatives to fossil fuels.
• Hydrogen is a promising clean energy carrier.
• Developing efficient catalysts is crucial for hydrogen production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize a novel MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposite for hydrogen production.
• To investigate the catalytic activity of the nanocomposite in NaBH4 hydrolysis.
• To optimize the composition of the nanocomposite for enhanced hydrogen generation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of S@g-C3N4 via thermal condensation of thiourea.
• Fabrication of MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposites.
• Characterization using XRD, FTIR, FESEM, STEM, and spectrophotometry.
• Evaluation of hydrogen production via NaBH4 hydrolysis.

Main Results:

• The MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited the highest lattice constant and volume, leading to a band gap energy of 4.14 eV.
• This nanocomposite showed a high surface area (22 m²/g) and pore volume (0.11 cm³/g).
• The MoO3/10%S@g-C3N4 catalyst achieved a maximum hydrogen production rate of ~22,340 mL/g·min, significantly higher than pure MoO3.

Conclusions:

• The MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposite is a highly effective catalyst for hydrogen production.
• The 10% S loading in the MoO3/S@g-C3N4 nanocomposite optimizes catalytic performance.
• This material holds significant potential for clean hydrogen energy generation.