Au/TiO2–gC3N4 Nanocomposites for Enhanced Photocatalytic H2 Production from Water under Visible Light Irradiation with Very Low Quantities of Sacrificial Agents

Abstract Here for the first time the design and optimization are presented of a three‐component Au/TiO 2 –gC 3 N 4 nanocomposite photocatalyst able to efficiently produce H 2 from water using very low amounts of sacrificial agents and under visible light irradiation. This enhanced photocatalytic behavior compared to Au/TiO 2 and Au/gC 3 N 4 materials is the result of synergetic effects due to high quality assembly and interface between the three components. This optimized nanoscale assembly characterized by simultaneous favorable nanoheterojunction formation between g‐C 3 N 4 and TiO 2 semiconductors, as well as AuNPs/gC 3 N 4 and AuNPs/TiO 2 junctions, leads to enhanced visible light harvesting, charge separation, and H 2 production. This composite photocatalyst yields a high H 2 production (350 µmol −1 h −1 g catalyst −1 ) under visible light irradiation with minimal amounts of sacrificial agent (≤1 vol%), corresponding to activities much higher than reported so far under comparable conditions.