Au Nanoparticles Embedded in Carbon Self-Doping g-C3N4: Facile Photodeposition Method for Superior Photocatalytic H2 Evolution

Developing an efficient and stable photocatalyst for photocatalytic H-2 production is of great significance for solving the existing energy and environmental crisis today. Herein, a superior photocatalyst, the uniformly dispersed ultrasmall Au nanoparticle (Au NP) decorated carbon self-doping g-C3N4 nanosheet (PDAu/CCNS), was successfully prepared via a simple photodeposition route. The as-prepared PDAu/CCNS displays a robust photocatalytic hydrogen (H-2) production activity (similar to 15181 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)) under visible-light irradiation. The above value is similar to 3 times higher than that of the neat carbon self-doping g-C3N4 (CCNS) (5330 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)), similar to 2 times that of the impregnation Au NP decorated carbon self-doping g-C3N4 (IM-Au/CCNS) (9030 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)), and similar to 50 times that of the bulk g-C3N4 (BCN) (300 mu mol h(-1) g(-1)). The superior photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared PDAu/CCNS results from the evenly distributed ultrasmall Au NPs on CCNS, leading to a strong localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and an intimate contact between Au NPs and CCNS; thus, the as-prepared PDAu/CCNS exhibits a strong visible-light absorption and a high charge carrier separation and transfer rate, both of which synergistically promote the photocatalytic H-2 evolution process.

Automated summary

The efficient and stable photocatalyst PDAu/CCNS was successfully prepared through a simple photodeposition route, displaying robust photocatalytic hydrogen (H-2) production activity under visible-light irradiation. The evenly distributed ultrasmall Au NPs on CCNS, leading to a strong localized surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and an intimate contact between Au NPs and CCNS, contribute to the superior photocatalytic performance of PDAu/CCNS, promoting the photocatalytic H-2 evolution process.