Graphene-Sensitized Perovskite Oxide Monolayer Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Reaction

Efficient visible light harvesting and fast charge transfer are of high importance for solar-energy conversion over semiconducting metal oxide photocatalysts. Here, a proof-of-concept strategy is developed to enable visible-light photocatalytic activity of wide bandgap Ca2Nb3O10 monolayer nanosheet by incorporation of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheet as a photosensitizer. The Ca2Nb3O10 monolayer nanosheet/RGO 2D-2D nanohybrids exhibit largely elevated performance in photocatalytic H-2 evolution with a H-2 production rate of 820.76 mu mol h(-1) g(-1) and tetracycline hydrochloride degradation reactions under the visible light irradiation. The combined experimental and theoretical results demonstrate that the electrons generated from the photoexcited RGO transfer to the Ca2Nb3O10 monolayer nanosheet and then participate in the photocatalytic reactions. The constructed RGO sensitized monolayer perovskite photocatalyst nanohybrids are demonstrated as an efficient photosensitizer for enhancing visible light harvesting of wide bandgap semiconductor in solar-energy conversion, and elaborated in details of the charge transfer process of this type of nanohybrid photocatalyst.