Fullerenes/Graphite Carbon Nitride with Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Ability

Graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is an excellent photo-catalytic hydrogen evolution material by water splitting, but enhancing its photocatalytie activity and, stability is still a big challenge. In this etudy, by utilizing the super ability of fullerenes (C-60) to attract electrons, we synthesized C-60/g-C3N4 photocatalytic composite materials with superior electronic separation efficiency. The addition of C-60 greatly improves: the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution ability of g-C3N4 for water splitting under visible light radiation. The highest hydrogen evolution amount reached 2268.6 mu mol/g over 15 mg/L C-60/g-C3N4 after 10 h, which is 50.1x that of g-C3N4 under the same water splitting condition. The hydrogen evolution amount over 15 mg/L C-60/g-C3N4 in the 0.2 mol/L K2HPO4 system is 4161 mu mol/g, indicating the addition of K2HPO4 boosts the activity of C-60/g-C3N4. The apparent quantum yield after 76 h was about 5.,8%. The long-term photolysis water reaction for 76 h with rising photocatalytic activity exhibits that the C-60/g-C3N4 has excellent stability in water spitting. We can regulate the photocatalytic activity of C-60/g-C3N4, by changing the C-60 concentration. Photoluminescence spectrum proves the super ability of C-60 to attract electrons on the surface of C-60/g-C3N4. Thus, C-60 promotes election separation efficiency on the surface of g-C3N4 and significantly enhances photocatalytic hydrogen evolution ability of g-C3N4.