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Effect of Nitrogen Doping Level on the Performance of N‐Doped Carbon Quantum Dot/TiO 2 Composites for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Author(s) -
Shi Run,
Li Zi,
Yu Huijun,
Shang Lu,
Zhou Chao,
Waterhouse Geoffrey I. N.,
Wu LiZhu,
Zhang Tierui
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201700943
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , nanocomposite , doping , visible spectrum , carbon fibers , semiconductor , hydrogen , quantum dot , nanotechnology , electron transfer , carbon quantum dots , photochemistry , aqueous solution , chemical engineering , catalysis , composite material , optoelectronics , chemistry , composite number , organic chemistry , engineering
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted widespread interest for photocatalytic applications, owing to their low cost and excellent electron donor/acceptor properties. However, their advancement as visible‐light photosensitizers in CQDs/semiconductor nanocomposites is currently impaired by their poor quantum yields (QYs). Herein, we describe the successful fabrication of a series of nitrogen‐doped CQDs (NCDs) with N/C atomic ratios ranging from 0.14–0.30. NCDs with the highest N‐doping level afforded a remarkable external QY of 66.8 % at 360 nm, and outstanding electron transfer properties and photosensitization efficiencies when physically adsorbed on P25 TiO 2 . A NCDs/P25‐TiO 2 hybrid demonstrated excellent performance for hydrogen evolution in aqueous methanol under both UV and visible‐light illumination relative to pristine P25 TiO 2 . Controlled nitrogen doping of CQDs therefore represents a very effective strategy for optimizing the performance of CQDs/semiconductor hybrid photocatalysts.