Nb-Ta3N5 protected with PANI nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic water-splitting towards hydrogen production under visible light irradiation

The photocatalytic production of hydrogen (H2) from water to convert solar energy to chemical energy is a promising way to solve energy crisis issues. In this study, we synthesized niobium -doped tantalum nitride protected by polyaniline (Nb-Ta3N5@PANI) for visible light photocatalytic water -splitting. Nb was successfully doped into Ta3N5 lattice confirmed by XRD. Nb as a dopant increases e-- h+ pair separation by acting as an intermediate band between the valence band (VB) and conduction band (CB) of Ta3N5. PANI works as a conducting polymer to further improve the photogenerated e- and h+ charge transfer. XRD, UV-vis, FT/IR, and FESEM were used to confirm their structure and properties. Based on our modification, the optimal solar H2 evolution on the Nb-Ta3N5@PANI photocatalyst reaches 71.3 mmol/g, ca. 3.1 folds that of the Ta3N5 photocatalyst.