Facile one-step 'polymerization-exfoliation' route to crystalline graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for increased photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

摘要

Crystalline graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets have a large surface and thus show superior photocatalytic H-2 generation performance upon exposure to visible light. However, producing such crystalline g-C3N4 nanosheets is highly challenge. Herein, we report a simple one-step "polymerization-exfoliation" strategy to effectively fabricate g-C3N4 nanosheets, in which the melamine precursor was heated directly to 700 degrees C for achieving the simultaneous polymerization and exfoliation. Thus, the prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets offer active H-2 generation. The highest H-2 generation is 8.3 mu mol.h(-1), over 14 times higher than bulk g-C3N4 under same condition (0.6 mu mol.h(-1)). This study demonstrates a simple and effective one-step "polymerization-exfoliation" strategy towards synthesizing highly crystalline g-C3N4 for increased H-2 generation.