Composite of g-C3N4 and poly(3-hexylthiophene) prepared by polymerizing thiophene-3-acetic acid treated g-C3N4 and 3-hexylthiophene for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Composite of g-C3N4 and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with enhanced photocatalytic H2 production activity was prepared by polymerizing 3-hexylthiophene and g-C3N4, which was treated with thiophene-3-acetic acid (T3A). The morphology, chemical structure, and light absorption properties of samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, BET, XRD, FT-IR, XPS, UV–visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–vis). The migration and separation efficiency of charge carriers were characterized by photoluminescence (PL) emission spectra, Time resolved photoluminescence spectra, transient photocurrent responses, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts were tested as the H2 evolution rate from water under visible light irradiation in the presence of triethanolamine as sacrifice agent. The results indicated that g-C3N4-P3HT composite shows significant enhanced migration and separation efficiency of charge carriers, and photocatalytic H2 production activity from water. The intrinsic nature causing the significance enhanced photocatalytic performance was discussed. Our findings here may provide a new strategy to design composite photocatalyst with high photocatalytic activity.