Targeted synthesis of adsorptive nanocomposite photocatalyst for conversion of dangerous H2S gas to clean fuel

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a major issue in the sour oil and gas industries, is a highly corrosive and toxic gas produced on a large scale in these industries. Photocatalytic degradation of H2S with the aim of producing fuel is a novel and sustainable approach to solving the problem, supplying clean hydrogen fuel and eliminating this dangerous environmental pollutant. In this photon-based green strategy, the targeted design and easy synthesis of semiconducting energy materials are crucial from an applied standpoint. In this research, without consuming an external reducing agent, the adsorbing rGO/CoMn2O4 nanocomposite was synthesized through a one-pot hydrothermal route and employed to effectively produce hydrogen gas via photocatalytic splitting of an alkaline H2S solution. XRD, FTIR, and Raman analyses showed that graphene oxide (GO) is reduced during the hydrothermal process without the need for a reducing additive. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations confirmed the attachment of the constituent particles of the composite. Bisulfide sorption studies revealed that the nanocomposite photocatalyst has a high capacity for adsorbing the reactant species (13.97 wt.%). BET, UV-Vis, and PL spectroscopic analyses showed that the presence of rGO in the nanocomposite increases the surface area of the photocatalyst, and by enhancing photon absorption and reducing electron-hole recombination, more hydrogen is generated. The rate of hydrogen release was (formula presented), indicating the good performance of the synthesized nanocomposite photocatalyst for pollutant removal and conversion into clean fuel.