Photoelectrochemical Water Separation and Dye Degradation Catalyzed by g-C3N4/MoS2 Nanosheets Doped with V2+ Metal Ions Coated on TiO2 Nanorods

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems are inefficient, probably due to charge carrier mobility, recombination rate, and solar light absorption. Fabricating semiconductor-metal sulfide nanocomposites and nanostructured materials can improve the absorption of solar radiation, electron–hole separation, transport, and hydrogen (H2) and oxygen generation to resolve the world's energy dilemma. The vanadium-doped (V) layered graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN)/MoS2 (MS) nanocomposite was synthesized employing two-step solvent evaporation and thermal condensation. This multilayer V-doped g-CN/MS nanocomposite broke down methyl red dye in 60 min under sunlight. Due to visible light absorption, the V-doped g-CN-MS nanostructure degrades the dye by 97.84%. We found that at 3.0 wt % V-doped g-CN/MS coated on TiO2 nanorods. The catalyst nanocomposites displayed a high photocurrent density of 23.72 mA cm–2 and a H2 production rate of 4477 mol h–1 cm–2. Additionally, the microstructure, optical absorption behavior, and electrical conductivity were all shown to contribute to these impressive PEC characteristics. The V-modified g-CN/MS nanocomposite structures are effective and regulated PEC catalysts, and this study suggests ways to improve PEC water splitting and degradation.