Zero-Dimensional/Two-Dimensional Au25(Cys)18 Nanoclusters/g-C3N4 Nanosheets Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production under Visible Light

Abstract

Au25(Cys)18 nanoclusters/g-C3N4 nanosheets composite photocatalysts were fabricated via a facile wet impregnation method. Modifying g-C3N4 nanosheets with Au25(Cys)18 nanoclusters led to the enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light. Such an improvement of activity is attributed to a vast number of junctions formed at the interface between the Au nanoclusters and the g-C3N4 nanosheets of the hybrid photocatalysts. The efficient separation of photogenerated charges was thus facilitated by their appropriate interfacial band structures. More importantly, the ultrasmall size Au25 nanoclusters exhibited the resistance to aggregation during the photocatalytic reactions. Thus, the hybrid photocatalysts are not only more active but also more stable than photoreduced Au nanoparicles/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts in the hydrogen production reaction, which make these novel catalysts promising in the application of solar fuels production. The combination of noble metal clusters with g-C3N...