Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic H2 evolution on the novel nitrogen-doped carbon dots/CuBi2O4 microrods composite

A novel nitrogen doped carbon dots (N-CDs) modified CuBi2O4 photocatalyst was prepared through a facile hydrothermal method, and applied to the photocatalytic water splitting under visible light irradiation (lambda > 400 nm). Results exhibited the increased photocatalytic hydrogen production of N-CDs/CuBi2O4 compared with pure CuBi2O4 and CDs/CuBi2O4. The excellent photocatalytic performance of N-CDs/CuBi2O4 composite was attributed to efficient synergistic effect between N-CDs and CuBi2O4, which increased light harvesting and electron transfer capacity. Additionally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of N-CDs/CuBi2O4 composite was proposed. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.