Plasmonic Graphene-Like Au/C3N4 Nanosheets with Barrier-Free Interface for Photocatalytically Sustainable Evolution of Active Oxygen Species

Graphene-like carbon nitride supported plasmonic Au NPs with physical barrier-free interface (Au/C3N4) were in situ synthesized by one-step polymerization of the homogeneous mixture of HAuCl4 and urea. The plasmonic graphene-like structure of Au/C3N4 with the physical barrier-free interface enhances the visible-light capturing capability, increases the redox potentials, and facilitates the directional transfer of electrons from N 2p of C-3-N species in g-C3N4 to Au in the photocatalytic procedure, which greatly promotes the activity of Au/C3N4 for the evolution of center dot O-2(-), center dot OH, and H2O2 species. The optimal Au/C3N4 sample provides the highest photocatalytic efficiency of active oxygen species, obtaining 31 (center dot OH), 68 (center dot O-2(-)), and 990 mu mol L-1 h(-1) (H2O2) without scavenger under visible light, respectively. The work supplies a new approach to design efficient graphene-like structures with a physical barrier free interface for photocatalytically enhancing sustainable solar conversion.