Hydrogen generation through photocatalytic water splitting with the aid of renewable solar energy is an important step toward the development of sustainable and alternative energy. In the present study, using the first-principles calculations, we have explored the s-triazine based two-dimensional porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) materials as a potential photocatalyst for water splitting. For calculating the band structures more accurately, we have employed hybrid density functionals. The calculated band gap of the single layer g-CN is found to be 2.89 eV, which decreases to ∼2.75 eV in multilayered structure. To improve the visible light activity, the effect of doping with different nonmetals on the electronic structure has been investigated. Among the different dopants studied, phosphorus is found to be more effective to reduce the band gap to 2.31 eV. The band edge potentials obtained from density functional calculations are corrected for vacuum potentials. The band alignments with respect to the water redox levels show that the thermodynamic criterion for the overall water splitting is satisfied. We have also carried out analogous studies on the heptazine based carbon nitride, g-C 3 N 4 , and the calculated band gaps, as well as the position of the valence band maximum, are consistent with the reported experimental results validating the computational method we have used. Based on our theoretical investigations, we can predict that the s-triazine based carbon nitride materials should be a potential photocatalyst for water splitting under visible light.
In this theoretical study, we investigate recent observation of enhancement of hydrogen evolution efficiency of Rh-doped SrTiO3 due to codoping with La at the Sr lattice site. Using hybrid density functional theory, we have systematically studied the electronic structure of (Rh, La)-codoped SrTiO3 and compared with that of Rh-doped SrTiO3, La-doped SrTiO3, and undoped SrTiO3. The aim of the present study has been to explore the role of different factors toward the observed enhanced photoactivity of (Rh, La)-codoped SrTiO3. Doping with only Rh significantly reduces the photoabsorption energy by introducing localized acceptor states between the valence band and conduction band. Unfortunately, these states act as efficient sources for charge carrier trapping. Besides, the oxygen vacancy found to be present in the Rh-doped SrTiO3 as a charge compensating defect also accelerates the electron-hole recombination rate. We have shown that codoping with La and Rh leads to the formation of clean band structure without encountering any midgap states. Introduction of La into the Rh-doped SrTiO3 not only reduces the quantity of Rh(4+) species but also suppresses the oxygen vacancy due to formation of a charge-compensated system. The presence of La favors Rh doping into the crystal structure of SrTiO3 by reducing the formation energy. Moreover, the conduction band minima are found to be shifted in the upward direction significantly due to codoping with Rh and La, thereby increasing the reducing behavior at the conduction band. This leads to enhancement of hydrogen evolution activity of SrTiO3 during photocatalytic water splitting under visible light.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.