Multifunctional Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanodots for Photoluminescence, Sensor, and Visible-Light-Induced H2 Production

Herein, multifunctional N-doped carbon nanodots (NCNDs) were prepared through the one-step hydrothermal treatment of yeast. Results show that the NCNDs can be used as a new photocatalyst to drive the water-splitting reaction under UV light. Moreover, the NCNDs can efficiently catalyze the hydrogen evolution reaction. Under visible-light irradiation, Eosin Y-sensitized NCNDs exhibit excellent activity for hydrogen evolution. The hydrogen evolution rate of NCNDs (without any modification and co-catalyst) reaches 107.1 mu molh(-1) (2142 mu molg(-1)h(-1)). When Pt is loaded on the NCNDs, the hydrogen evolution rate reaches 491.2 mu molh(-1) (9824 mu molg(-1)h(-1)) under visible-light irradiation. In addition, the NCNDs show excellent fluorescent properties and can be applied as a fluorescent probe for the sensitive and selective detection of Fe3+.