Functionalized nano diamond composites for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and effective pollutant degradation

Development of superior heterogeneous photocatalyst for hydrogen (H-2) evolution with promising pollutant degradable capacity is a significant feature but then again thought-provoking for shaping the energy and environmental issues. In this regard, a photocatalytic H-2 evolution using nano diamond (ND) semiconducting materials having pollutant degradable capacity for Rhodamine B dye (RhB) has been rarely reported and hence predicted to the sustainable energy. Productive characteristics such good chemical stability, super hardness, nanometer size, biocompatibility and thermal conductivity, ND is a capable and highly valuable powder physical material. Non-uniform and agglomeration dispersion spread of ND in different solvents are the main problems preventing ND from the wide-use in commercial applications. Upon 535 nm solar light excitation, the fabricated ND sample exhibit remarkable photocatalytic H-2 production with a HER of about 400 mu mol h(-1) than pristine ND (197 mu mol h(-1)). Additionally, this H-2 generation dramatically enhances the quantum yield, indicating the H-2 terminated sites work as electron reservoirs. Precisely, the kinetic constant pseudo-order of FND for photodegradation of RhB was higher as compared with pristine ND. As such, the results show an important step toward tailor-designed and explain the vital role of FND composites for the rational motifs of fruitful photocatalyst with effective pollutant degradable capability for future demand. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.