Ultrastable metal-free near-infrared-driven photocatalysts for H-2 production based on protonated 2D g-C3N4 sensitized with Chlorin e6

Efficient utilization of near-infrared (NIR) energy is a high-priority in the field of energy and nanomedicine, yet the design and assembly of metal-free NIR-driven photocatalysts with biologic safety and good stability is still challenging. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of high-quality metal-free NIR-driven photocatalysts by judiciously combining the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinically useable Chlorin e6 (Ce6) as NIR photosensitizer and the protonated two-dimensional (2D) graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for the first time. Under the irradiation of visible light (> 420 nm) and NIR light ( > 780 rim), the Ce6@pCN prepared here showed remarkable 10-fold and 174-fold high H-2 evolution performance compared with bulk g-C3N4 (1275.6 vs. 127.1 mu mol h(-1) g(-1); 312.6 vs. 1.8 mu mol g(-1)) and excellent stability. Owing to the high efficiency, stability and nontoxicity, this protonated 2D g-C3N4 sensitized with Ce6 is promising for a wide-range of applications in energy, environmental and biological fields.