Construction of MOFs/g-C3N4 composite for accelerating visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution

In this work, we researched the effect of PCN-222 (M = Ni, Fe, Co) (PM) with different metal ligands on their photocatalytic performance. Compared with PFe and PCo, PNi has the highest photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency due to the narrowest bandgap and the highest conduction band (CB) position. Furthermore, PCN-222(M)/g-C 3 N 4 (PM/CN) heterojunctions was synthesized by one-pot solvothermal method in which PNi/CN displayed the most outstanding photocatalytic activity for H 2 evolution. PNi/CN-1 displayed the highest photocatalytic activity. Its hydrogen evolution rate is 19.3 and 3.7 times higher than that of PNi and CN, respectively. A mechanism is proposed to expound the roles of PNi and the enhancement of visible-light photocatalytic performance of the PNi/CN. This work presents a new perspective for the development of high performance photocatalysts for hydrogen production under visible-light driven. • PCN-222（M = Ni, Fe, Co）/g-C 3 N 4 was prepared by a facile one-pot hydrothermal route. • PCN-222(Ni)/g-C 3 N 4 exhibited excellent hydrogen evolution ability under visible-light. • The bandgap and the CB position of PCN-222 can be adjusted by altering the metal in the ligand. • The hydrogen evolution mechanism from water photolysis of MOF/g-C 3 N 4 is proposed.