Amid the increasing focus on sustainable energy, hydrogen generation through photocatalysis has garnered substantial attention in recent years. Given their distinctive electronic, optical, and structural properties, two-dimensional perovskite nanosheets have surfaced as promising contenders as photocatalysts. Here we present a systematic exploration of Ruddlesden-Popper phase Can-1Mnn-3Nb3O3n+12− (n = 4,5,6) perovskite (CMNO) nanosheets with distinct layers (n = 4, 5, and 6), synthesized via exfoliation approach, for enhanced physicochemical properties and catalytic performances. Rigorous characterizations supported by the Tauc plot and Mott-Schottky analysis reveal the crystal structures, varied bandgaps, and an n-type semiconductor behavior from the CMNO nanosheets. In a novel approach to enhance its photo-absorption, Chlorella vulgaris microalgae, strategically layered onto the CMNO nanosheets, consequently exhibit significant improvements in the onset potential and current density, especially for the CMNO (n = 6) nanosheet. This research lays a foundation for understanding the tailored composition and layer-dependent properties of CMNO nanosheets, propelling their potential application in efficient hydrogen generation through photoelectrochemical water splitting for sustainable energy technologies.
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