Photocatalytic selective Hrelease from formic acid enabled by COcaptured carbon nitride.

The selective decomposition of formic acid (FA) traditionally needs to be carried out under high temperature with the noble metal-based catalysts. Meanwhile, it also encounters a separation of Hand COfor pure Hproduction. The photocatalytic FA dehydrogenation under mild conditions can meet a growing demand for sustainable Hgeneration. Here, we reported a photocatalytic selective Hrelease from FA decomposition at low temperature for pure Hproduction by Pt/g-CN. Low-cost and easy-to-obtained urea was utilized to produce carbon nitride as the metal-free semiconductor photocatalyst, along with a photodeposition to obtain Pt/g-CN. The electrochemical evidences clearly demonstrate the photocatalytic activity of Pt/g-CNto produce Hand COin one-step FA decomposition. And, the impedance is the lowest under simulated solar light of 70 mW cmwith a faster electron transfer kinetic. Under simulated solar light, Hproduction rate is up to 1.59 mmol · h· gfor FA with concentration at 2.65 mol l, 1700 000 times larger than that under visible light and 1928 times under ultraviolet (UV) light. DFT calculations further elucidate that nitrogen (N) active site at the g-CNhas an excellent adsorption towards COmolecule capture. Then, Hmolecules are selectively released to simultaneously separate Hand COin solution. Platinum (Pt) at Pt/g-CNas the catalytic site contributes into the acceleration of Hproduction.