Improvement of photo-electrocatalytic CO2 reduction on boron-doped-g-C3N4 supported with Fe-MOF (NH2-MIL-101)

This study investigates the photo-electrocatalytic capabilities of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and boron-doped g-C3N4 when combined with NH2-MIL-101(Fe). Various analytical techniques are utilized to characterize the physicochemical properties of these catalysts. Incorporating NH2-MIL-101 alters the crystalline size and structure, resulting in decreased band gap energies. Catalyst performance is evaluated through cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The findings show a considerable shift in the electrochemical behavior of B-g-C3N4/NH2-MIL-101 in light and dark conditions, particularly an increase in current density. Furthermore, CO2 reduction to ethanol is examined using continuous light exposure and CO2 bubbling, where the B-g-C3N4/NH2-MIL-101 electrode achieves the highest ethanol production rate of 17.69 mu mole/cm2 & sdot;h at-1 V vs. NHE. Amid the growing urgency for efficient and sustainable CO2 valorization strategies, this study addresses a critical need by developing and evaluating MOF-g-C3N4-based composites that enhance light-driven electrocatalytic performance. This research underscores the promising potential of these composites in photo-electrocatalysis, especially B-g-C3N4/NH2-MIL-101, for its notable efficiency and stability.