A simple melamine-assisted exfoliation of polymeric graphitic carbon nitrides for highly efficient hydrogen production from water under visible light

Author(s): Longtao Ma ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Huiqing Fan ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Mengmeng Li ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Hailin Tian ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Jiawen Fang ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Guangzhi Dong ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵

Publication date (Electronic): 2015

Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

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Abstract

Compared to the bulk-CN, the quasi-2D-CN possesses a unique electronic structure, enlarged bandgap, prolonged lifetime, increased surface area and enhanced electronic transport, and exhibits highly efficient hydrogen production from water under visible light.

Abstract

Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride with a two-dimensional (2D) structure has intensive potential applications in hydrogen production from water splitting under visible light irradiation. Searching for an efficient technology is the key to synthesizing 2D materials from bulk powders. Here, a simple, highly-efficient, large-scale and low-cost melamine-assisted exfoliation route is reported to obtain quasi-2D carbon nitride using an oil bath. Quasi 2D carbon nitride possesses a high specific surface area (116.76 m ² g ⁻¹), a larger bandgap (by 0.13 eV), an enhanced electronic transport ability in the in-plane direction, a prolonged photo-excited charge carrier lifetime, and a lowered recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes resulting from the quantum confinement effect. These make enormous contributions to the photoactivity for hydrogen production under visible light. Therefore, the melamine-assisted liquid exfoliation route can be applied to large-scale polymeric carbon nitride photocatalyst production and is envisaged to have great promise for the exfoliation of other materials with layered structures.

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A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light.

Xinchen Wang, Kazuhiko Maeda, Arne Thomas … (2009)

The production of hydrogen from water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal future energy source, independent of fossil reserves. For an economical use of water and solar energy, catalysts that are sufficiently efficient, stable, inexpensive and capable of harvesting light are required. Here, we show that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor. Contrary to other conducting polymer semiconductors, carbon nitride is chemically and thermally stable and does not rely on complicated device manufacturing. The results represent an important first step towards photosynthesis in general where artificial conjugated polymer semiconductors can be used as energy transducers.