Constructing 2D/2D Fe2O3/g‐C3N4 Direct Z‐Scheme Photocatalysts with Enhanced H2 Generation Performance

Sunlight‐driven photocatalytic water splitting to generate hydrogen (H2) is a promising approach for utilizing solar energy. Herein, direct Z‐scheme Fe2O3/g‐C3N4 photocatalysts are rationally fabricated for H2 evolution under visible light. The graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanosheets obtained by solvent exfoliation of bulk g‐C3N4 display modest photocatalytic activity. Strikingly, its photocatalytic performance can be greatly improved by electrostatically assembling with hematite α‐Fe2O3 nanoplates. With platinum (Pt) as co‐catalyst and triethanolamine (TEOA) as hole scavenger, the H2 generation rate of optimized Fe2O3/g‐C3N4 composite with Fe2O3 weight percentage of 10% is about 13‐fold that of g‐C3N4. Based on the enhanced photocatalytic performance and slower time‐resolved photoluminescence decay, Z‐scheme charge transfer process is accepted for running this photocatalytic system, which is further evidenced by selective photo‐deposition of Pt nanoparticles on the g‐C3N4 surface. This rationally synthesized Fe2O3/g‐C3N4 composite is expected to have great potentials in solar energy conversation.