Ammonia-assisted fabrication of Cr1.3Fe0.7O3@amine-containing carbon quantum dot core-shell architectures with ultrathin shell for broad-spectrum-driven photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Abstract

To make the efficient spatial charge separation and exploration of broad spectrum-driven H2 evolution remains a pivot challenge. Here, a novel core@shell Cr1.3Fe0.7O3@amine-containing carbon quantum dots (S1@NCQD) composite was successfully prepared by a facile bottom-up self-assembly route. An ordinary contact structure of carbon quantum dots (CQD) modified Cr1.3Fe0.7O3 was also prepared. The photocatalytic H2 production rate of Cr1.3Fe0.7O3 composite has not been improved only through the modification of CQD. Remarkably, the as-obtained S1@NCQD composite illustrated the highest photocatalytic H2 production activity under visible light illumination, which is approximately 5.5 and 7.9 times higher than that of S1 and CQD/S1 composite, respectively. Importantly, the new class of S1@NCQD composite can also exploit broad spectrum light to trigger H2 production (3.12 μmol). Effective photoinduced electron transfer is derived from a powerful interaction between shell and core, which was characterized by using photoluminescence, time-resolved PL spectroscopy, and photocurrent measurement.