Rapid thermal surface engineering of g-C3N4 for efficient hydrogen evolution

Abstract

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a fascinating 2D photocatalyst, but preparing ultrathin g-C3N4 with outstanding surface properties by a green and facile method is still a tremendous challenge. In this research, g-C3N4 nanosheets were modified through H2O2-assisted rapid thermal surface treatment. The rapid decomposition of H2O2 molecules on the surface greatly optimized the surface properties of the catalyst. Thus, the modified g-C3N4 nanosheets had more interfacial active sites and broader visible light absorption and showed the largest hydrogen evolution rate of 894.9 μmol g−1 h−1. Photoluminescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) assays showed that the modified photocatalyst accelerated charge transfer and thereby attained higher photocatalytic H2 generation efficiency. This research offers a new strategy to develop g-C3N4-based 2D photocatalysts for H2 preparation.