Graphene quantum dots piecing together into graphene on nano Au for overall water splitting

Utilizing photocatalysts to split water into H 2 and H 2 O 2 simultaneously is an ideal but challenging process to obtain clean H 2 energy and high valuable H 2 O 2 . Most of the photocatalysts currently studied for the overall water splitting are converting water into H 2 and O 2 , resulting in further need of gas separation. Here, we reported a photocatalyst which can utilize the nano-Au based localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect to produce H 2 and H 2 O 2 simultaneously. Nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) pieced together into large graphene through a catalytic process by chloroauric acid, in which dodecahedron nano-Au particles can also be obtained concurrently. Then Au wrapped up by graphene can be in situ formed with good interfaces. Photocatalytic activity tests revealed that the as prepared graphene@Au catalysts show efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting activity with a H 2 evolution rate of 65.6 μmol g −1  h −1 and H 2 O 2 generation rate of 49.7 μmol g −1  h −1 . This work provides a feasible route for the facile fabrication of graphene through the bottom-up polycondensation of N-GQDs by amide bonds and new insights into the synthesis of photocatalysts for overall water splitting into H 2 and H 2 O 2 .