High-Performance rGO-ZnO/WO3 heterojunction photocatalyst for solar green hydrogen generation

A novel rGO (Reduced Graphene Oxide)-ZnO/WO₃ nanohybrid has tremendous commercialization potential for photocatalytic hydrogen generation because of its cheap production costs, specific optical properties, remarkable stability and conductivity. It decreases charge recombination, improves photoelectronic transit, and broadens visible light absorption with rGO. This study developed a simple nano-casting procedure to include WO₃ nanocuboids into rGO-ZnO nanorods formed by hydrothermal treatment with the appropriate amount of ZnO grafted on rGO. Improved photocatalytic activity has been discovered in rGO-ZnO nanocomposite with 1:3 ratios. The optimized powder rGO/ZnO (1:3) nanocomposite paired with WO₃ exhibits the maximum photocatalytic hydrogen production activity (13.29 mmoles g⁻¹h⁻¹), which is approximately 1.27 times more active than the powder rGO/ZnO (1:3) nanocomposite (10.46 mmoles g⁻¹ h⁻¹). The contributions of rGO/ZnO (1:3) and integrated WO₃ to photocatalytic hydrogen evolution enhancement have been fully investigated through experiment and characterization. The logical design and bottom-up synthesis of eco-friendly energy conversion materials with high performance and low-cost lead to commercialization and become the focal point of this effort.

Graphical abstract

Optimized rGO-ZnO (1:3)/ WO₃ heterojunction: a robust photocatalyst with a low band gap exhibits a slow rate of electron-hole recombination and remarkable (13.29 mmole g⁻¹ h⁻¹) solar hydrogen production activity.