Affiliation:
1. Center of Excellence for Environmental Safety and Biological Effects, Beijing Key Laboratory for Green Catalysis and Separation, Department of Chemistry, Beijing University of Technology, 100 Pingleyuan, Beijing 100124, China
Abstract
Carbon dots (CDs), as a new zero-dimensional carbon-based nanomaterial with desirable optical properties, exhibit great potential for many application fields. However, the preparation technique of multiple emission CDs with high yield is difficult and complex. Therefore, exploring the large-scale and straightforward synthesis of multicolor CDs from a simple carbon source is necessary. In this work, the solvent-free method prepares a series of multicolor emission CDs from dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA). The maximum emission wavelengths are 408, 445, 553, 580, and 610 nm, respectively, covering the visible light region. The 2,4- and 2,6-CDs possess the longer emission wavelength caused by the 2,4-, and 2,6-DHBA easily undergo decarboxylation to form the larger sp2 domain graphitized structure. These CDs incorporated with g-C3N4 can significantly improve the photocatalytic water-splitting hydrogen production rate by extending the visible light absorption and enhancing the charge separation efficiency. The long-wavelength emission CDs can further enhance photocatalytic activity primarily by improving visible light absorption efficiency.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China
Beijing Outstanding Young Scientists Program
Beijing Natural Science Foundation
Beijing Municipal Science and Natural Science Fund Project
Subject
General Materials Science,General Chemical Engineering