Synthesis of CuTi-LDH supported on g-C3N4 for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution reactions

A nanocomposite CuTi layered double hydroxide (LDH) supported on g-C3N4 (15 wt% of g-C3N4) is facilely synthesized by hydrothermal method. There are electrostatic interactions between positive layers of CuTi-LDH and negatively charged inner g-C3N4 sheets. The nanocomposite and its precursors are characterized through various analytical techniques, which affirmed the presence of both g-C3N4 and CuTi-LDH characteristic features. The pore-enriched hybrid geometry of CuTi-LDH@g-C3N4 with high specific surface area (146 m2/g), and suitable band gap of 2.46 eV enables the nanocomposite to act as both an electrocatalyst and photoelectrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Both the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical studies are done using 1 M KOH (pH = 13.6) with applied potential of −0.2 V to 1.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The onset potential of CuTi-LDH@g-C3N4 for OER appears at η = 0.36 V in dark and η = 0.32 V under visible light illumination of 30 min. Also, Mott-Schottky analysis shows n-type semiconductor behaviour for CuTi-LDH@g-C3N4 and its precursors. The photoelectrochemical water oxidation proceeds by charge transfer across a Type II heterojunction formed between the CuTi-LDH and g-C3N4 materials.