Fullerenes/Graphite Carbon Nitride with Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Ability

Abstract

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) is an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution material by water splitting, but enhancing its photocatalytic activity and stability is still a big challenge. In this study, by utilizing the super ability of fullerenes (C 60 ) to attract electrons, we synthesized C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic composite materials with superior electronic separation efficiency. The addition of C 60 greatly improves the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution ability of g-C 3 N 4 for water splitting under visible light radiation. The highest hydrogen evolution amount reached 2268.6 μmol/g over 15 mg/L C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 after 10 h, which is 50.1× that of g-C 3 N 4 under the same water splitting condition. The hydrogen evolution amount over 15 mg/L C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 in the 0.2 mol/L K 2 HPO 4 system is 4161 μmol/g, indicating the addition of K 2 HPO 4 boosts the activity of C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 . The apparent quantum yield after 76 h was about 5.8%. The long-term photolysis water reaction for 76 h with rising photocatalytic activity exhibits that the C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 has excellent stability in water spitting. We can regulate the photocatalytic activity of C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 by changing the C 60 concentration. Photoluminescence spectrum proves the super ability of C 60 to attract electrons on the surface of C 60 /g-C 3 N 4 . Thus, C 60 promotes electron separation efficiency on the surface of g-C 3 N 4 and significantly enhances photocatalytic hydrogen evolution ability of g-C 3 N 4 .

Interfacial Engineering of a Carbon Nitride–Graphene Oxide–Molecular Ni Catalyst Hybrid for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

“…The highest specific activity of 4655 ± 448 μmol H 2 (g NCN CN x ) −1 h –1 was achieved with 0.5 mg of NCN CN x in the presence of 50 wt % GO loading (0.25 mg) and 50 nmol NiP . The H 2 production rate is among the highest reported in the literature with respect to mass of carbon nitride and a benchmark for selective organic oxidation coupled to fuel generation. − Previously reported semiconductor–graphene heterojunction systems have been studied with a sacrificial electron donor and noble metal proton reduction catalysts (Table S8). For CN x systems, only an Eosin Y (EY) sensitized CN x -GO composite with a Pt catalyst in a sacrificial triethanolamine (TEOA) solution shows comparable activity to the system developed in this work (3820 μmol H 2 (g NCN CN x ) −1 h –1 ) .…”

Hierarchical SnS2/CuInS2 Nanosheet Heterostructure Films Decorated with C60 for Remarkable Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

“…34 As a famous carbon material, C 60 has special delocalized conjugated structure, so C 60 molecules possess the super-strong electron-withdrawing ability. 35 Therefore, C 60 can serve as a superior electron acceptor to promote the photogenerated charge separation. 36 Meanwhile, C 60 molecules can act as a stable protecting layer to inhibit the photocorrosion of semiconductors.…”

“…For the photocorrosion problem of metal sulfides, previous studies have proved that loading a thin layer of inexpensive and environment friendly carbon on the surface of the metal sulfides can also effectively inhibit the photocorrosion process . As a famous carbon material, C 60 has special delocalized conjugated structure, so C 60 molecules possess the super-strong electron-withdrawing ability . Therefore, C 60 can serve as a superior electron acceptor to promote the photogenerated charge separation .…”

Pathways towards Boosting Solar‐Driven Hydrogen Evolution of Conjugated Polymers

“…[218] The phosphorylated environment can accelerate proton transportation owing to the newly formed polarizable hydrogen bonds. [219,220]…”