Protonation of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C₃N₄) for an Electrostatically Self-Assembling Carbon@g-C₃N₄ Core–Shell Nanostructure toward High Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract

The development of new, appealing metal-free photocatalysts is of great significance for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, an electrostatic self-assembly method to form a unique core–shell architecture of a colloid of carbon spheres with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has been developed by a one-step chemical solution route. The chemical protonation of g-C3N4 solids with strong oxidizing acids (such as HNO3) is an efficient pathway toward the sol procedure of stable carbon nitride colloids, which can cover the surface of carbon spheres via electrostatic adsorption. On account of the unique polymeric matrix of g-C3N4 and reversible hydrogen bonding, the carbon@g-C3N4 derived from the sol solution showed high mechanical stability with broadened light absorption and enhanced conductivity for charge transport. Thus, the carbon@g-C3N4 core–shell structure exhibited remarkably enhanced photoelectrochemical performance. This polymer system is envisaged to hybridize with desirable functionalities (such as carbon nanorods) to form unique architectures for various applications.