Self-assembly of a g-C3N4-based 3D aerogel induced by N-modified carbon dots for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

An N-modified carbon dots/graphitic carbon nitride (NCDs/g-C3N4) aerogel was successfully prepared by simple electrostatic self-assembly of NCDs and g-C3N4 nanosheets without any harmful solvents or cross-linking agents. The prepared aerogel has a larger specific surface area compared to pure g-C3N4. As the NCD content increased, the NCDs/g-C3N4 aerogel exhibited a wider visible spectral response range and higher photo-generated carrier separation efficiency. It is of note that the hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of the NCDs/g-C3N4 aerogel can reach up to 13 499 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 1.6 times that of pure g-C3N4, because of the advantages of the 3D aerogel structure and the effect of NCDs on photocatalytic activity. The design realizes the control of the morphology of g-C3N4 by NCDs and provides a new strategy for the design of aerogels for highly efficient photocatalysis.