Carbon Self-Doped Carbon Nitride Nanosheets with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Abstract

In this study, we prepared carbon self-doped carbon nitride nanosheets through a glucose synergic co-condensation method. In the carbon self-doped structure, the N atoms in the triazine rings were substituted by C atoms, resulting in enhanced visible-light photocatalytic hydrogen production, which is three-times higher than that of bulk carbon nitride. The enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production was attributed to the higher charge-carrier transfer rate and widened light absorption range of the carbon nitride nanosheets after carbon self-doping. Thus, this work highlights the importance of carbon self-doping for improving the photocatalytic performance. Meanwhile, it provides a feasible method for the preparation of carbon self-doped carbon nitride without destroying the 2D conjugated backbone structures.