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Carbon Quantum Dot Implanted Graphite Carbon Nitride Nanotubes: Excellent Charge Separation and Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Wang Yang,
Liu Xueqin,
Liu Jia,
Han Bo,
Hu Xiaoqin,
Yang Fan,
Xu Zuwei,
Li Yinchang,
Jia Songru,
Li Zhen,
Zhao Yanli
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201802014
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , quantum dot , carbon nitride , carbon nanotube , chemical engineering , absorption (acoustics) , carbon fibers , graphite , heterojunction , photochemistry , quantum yield , hydrogen , visible spectrum , nitride , nanotechnology , composite number , chemistry , optoelectronics , composite material , catalysis , organic chemistry , layer (electronics) , physics , quantum mechanics , fluorescence , engineering
Abstract Graphite carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ) is a promising candidate for photocatalytic hydrogen production, but only shows moderate activity owing to sluggish photocarrier transfer and insufficient light absorption. Herein, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) implanted in the surface plane of g‐C 3 N 4 nanotubes were synthesized by thermal polymerization of freeze‐dried urea and CQDs precursor. The CQD‐implanted g‐C 3 N 4 nanotubes (CCTs) could simultaneously facilitate photoelectron transport and suppress charge recombination through their specially coupled heterogeneous interface. The electronic structure and morphology were optimized in the CCTs, contributing to greater visible light absorption and a weakened barrier of the photocarrier transfer. As a result, the CCTs exhibited efficient photocatalytic performance under light irradiation with a high H 2 production rate of 3538.3 μmol g −1 h −1 and a notable quantum yield of 10.94 % at 420 nm.