Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a Platform for the Synthesis of Silver Nanoclusters

Halyna Starukh,Vlastimil Matějka,Martin Koštejn,Petr Praus

doi:10.1186/s11671-021-03621-z

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (CN) synthetized by the thermal polycondensation of melamine at 550 °C for 4 h was further exfoliated by heating at 500 °C for 3 h. Silver cations were adsorbed on the exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (CNE) and then reduced by sodium borohydride forming silver nanoclusters (NCs) with a size of less than 1 nm. The NCs were located on the CNE surface and did not change the CNE properties except for its pore size distribution and thereby specific surface area (SSA). The Ag NCs were able to collect the photoinduced electrons of CNE and thus reduce their recombination with the holes. It was also documented by the increase in the CNE photocatalytic activity in terms of the degradation of antibiotic Ofloxacin. This study demonstrates the ability of CNE to serve as a platform for a simple and fast synthesis of Ag NCs without any stabilizing compounds.Graphic

Highlights

Graphitic carbon nitride is a two-dimensional (2D) metal-free polymeric material of the theoretical composition CN with remarkable chemical and electronic properties
The Ag deposited on CNE (AgCNE) materials were prepared by the adsorption of A g+ ions on exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride and the reduction with NaBH4
Structure and Texture Properties of AgCNE Nanomaterials The structure of prepared AgCNE nanomaterials was studied by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), UV– Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) and PL spectrometry

Summary

Introduction

Graphitic carbon nitride is a two-dimensional (2D) metal-free polymeric material of the theoretical composition CN with remarkable chemical and electronic properties. Results and Discussion The AgCNE materials were prepared by the adsorption of A g+ ions on exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride and the reduction with NaBH4.

Results

Conclusion