Ultrasonic-Assisted Exfoliation of Graphitic Carbon Nitride and its Electrocatalytic Performance in Process of Ethanol Reforming

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride was synthesized via thermolysis of urea and then ultrasonic exfoliated from colloidal solution to obtain phase pure ultrafine powder of g-C₃N₄. It was shown that ultrasonic-assisted exfoliation of the initial graphitic carbon nitride powder leads to an increase in its phase purity (PXRD), a change in the morphology (SEM), a decrease in the band gap from 2.93 eV to 2.85 eV (DRS) and an increase in the specific surface from 58.6 m²/g to 136.7 m²/g (BET). In addition, it was found that the exfoliated g-C₃N₄ is an effective catalyst for the process of electrocatalytic reforming – the hydrogen evolution from the water-alcohol solution. Based on volamperometry, it was found that the hydrogen overpotential of graphitic carbon nitride is equal to 249 mV (at 10 mA/cm²), and the Taffel slope is 112 mV/dec. The results of cyclic voltammetry of the electrode based on exfoliated g-C₃N₄ indicate its high stability, which allows us to consider the exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride as a promising basis of materials for electrocatalytic reforming of alcohols.