Unravelling charge carrier dynamics in protonated g-C3N4 interfaced with carbon nanodots as co-catalysts toward enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction: A combined experimental and first-principles DFT study

Nano Research

Volumn 10, Issue 5, 2017, Pages 1673-1696

  Ong, Wee Jun ^a   Putri, Lutfi Kurnianditia ^b   Tan, Yoong Chuen ^b   Tan, Lling Lling ^c   Li, Neng ^d   Ng, Yun Hau ^e   Wen, Xiaoming ^e   Chai, Siang Piao ^b  

^a INSTITUTE OF MATERIALS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING   (Singapore)

^b MONASH UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA   (Malaysia)

^c HERIOT WATT UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA   (Malaysia)

^d Wuhan University of Technology   (China)

^e UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES   (Australia)

Author keywords

carbon dioxide reduction; carbon nanodots; charge carrier dynamics; density functional theory (DFT) calculations; photocatalysis; protonated graphitic carbon nitride

Indexed keywords

CALCULATIONS; CARBON DIOXIDE; CARBON NITRIDE; CATALYST ACTIVITY; CHARGE CARRIERS; DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY; DYNAMICS; ELECTRONS; ENERGY CONVERSION; HETEROJUNCTIONS; LIGHT; NANOCATALYSTS; NANODOTS; PHOTOCATALYSIS; POLLUTION CONTROL; PROTONATION; SOLAR ENERGY;

CARBON DIOXIDE REDUCTION; CARBON NANODOTS; CHARGE CARRIER DYNAMICS; ELECTRON MICROSCOPY ANALYSIS; FIRST PRINCIPLES DENSITY FUNCTIONAL THEORY (DFT) CALCULATIONS; GRAPHITIC CARBON NITRIDES; PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS; TIME-RESOLVED PHOTOLUMINESCENCE;

DIAMONDS;

EID: 85014024922     PISSN: 19980124     EISSN: 19980000     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-016-1391-4     Document Type: Article

References (85)

1. 2 exchange caused by amplified plant productivity in northern ecosystems. Science 2016, 351, 696–699.
2. 2 emissions based on regional and impact-related climate targets. Nature 2016, 529, 477–483.
3. 2 and water vapor to hydrocarbon fuels. Nano Lett. 2009, 9, 731–737.
4. Trend watch. Nature 2016, 531, 281.
5. 2 reduction. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 12936–12973.
6. White, J. L.; Baruch, M. F.; Pander, J. E.; Hu, Y.; Fortmeyer, I. C.; Park, J. E.; Zhang, T.; Liao, K.; Gu, J.; Yan, Y. et al. Light-driven heterogeneous reduction of carbon dioxide: Photocatalysts and photoelectrodes. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 12888–12935.
7. 2 activation and reaction on surfaces of photocatalysts. Energy Environ. Sci. 2016, 9, 2177–2196.
8. 2 with exposed {001} facets on a graphene scaffold as photo-active hybrid nanostructures for reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. Nano Res. 2014, 7, 1528–1547.
9. 2 reduction by a Cu2O dark cathode with improved selectivity for carbonaceous products. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 8840–8845.
10. Yang, M.-Q.; Zhang, N.; Pagliaro, M.; Xu, Y.-J. Artificial photosynthesis over graphene-semiconductor composites. Are we getting better? Chem. Soc. Rev. 2014, 43, 8240–8254.
11. 2 over graphene-based composites: Current status and future perspective. Nanoscale Horiz. 2016, 1, 185–200.
12. 2- based composites for energy conversion and environmental remediation. ChemSusChem 2014, 7, 690–719.
13. Lewis, N. S.; Nocera, D. G. Powering the planet: Chemical challenges in solar energy utilization. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 2006, 103, 15729–15735.
14. 2 production and degradation. Nano Res. 2015, 8, 1199–1209.
15. 2 nanofibers: Understanding the reduction pathway. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 1956–1968.
16. 2 decorated 2D graphene oxide with enhanced photocatalytic activity toward carbon dioxide reduction. Appl. Catal. B 2015, 179, 160–170.
17. 2 reduction into renewable carbon-neutral fuels. ChemCatChem 2016, 8, 3074–3081.
18. 4 nanostructures toward enhanced photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. Nano Energy 2015, 13, 757–770.
19. 2 nanotube arrays grafted with Au, Ru, and ZnPd nanoparticles. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 3478–3493.
20. 2 reduction under visible light irradiation using Z-scheme systems consisting of metal sulfides, CoOx-loaded BiVO4, and a reduced graphene oxide electron mediator. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 10260–10264.
21. 2. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 6485–6490.
22. 2 to methane by water under visible light irradiation. RSC Adv. 2013, 3, 4505–4509.
23. Sivula, K.; van de Krol, R. Semiconducting materials for photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Nat. Rev. Mater. 2016, 1, 15010.
24. Inoue, T.; Fujishima, A.; Konishi, S.; Honda, K. Photoelectrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide in aqueous suspensions of semiconductor powders. Nature 1979, 277, 637–638.
25. 2 reduction highly enhanced by oxygen vacancies on Pt-nanoparticle-dispersed gallium oxide. Nano Res. 2016, 9, 1689–1700.
26. 2 hybrid photocatalyst under visible light irradiation: Process and kinetic studies. Chem. Eng. J. 2017, 308, 248–255.
27. Zhang, N.; Yang, M.-Q.; Liu, S. Q.; Sun, Y. G.; Xu, Y.-J. Waltzing with the versatile platform of graphene to synthesize composite photocatalysts. Chem. Rev. 2015, 115, 10307–10377.
28. 2 reduction. Nano Energy 2016, 30, 59–68.
29. 2 on BiOCl nanoplates with the assistance of photoinduced oxygen vacancies. Nano Res. 2015, 8, 821–831.
30. Xi, G. C.; Ouyang, S. X.; Li, P.; Ye, J. H.; Ma, Q.; Su, N.; Bai, H.; Wang, C. Ultrathin W18O49 nanowires with diameters below 1 nm: Synthesis, near-infrared absorption, photoluminescence, and photochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2012, 51, 2395–2399.
31. 2-based composites: Synthesis, formation mechanism and characterization. Nanoscale 2014, 6, 1946–2008.
32. Wang, X. C.; Maeda, K.; Thomas, A.; Takanabe, K.; Xin, G.; Carlsson, J. M.; Domen, K.; Antonietti, M. A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light. Nat. Mater. 2009, 8, 76–80.
33. Wang, X. C.; Maeda, K.; Chen, X. F.; Takanabe, K.; Domen, K.; Hou, Y. D.; Fu, X. Z.; Antonietti, M. Polymer semiconductors for artificial photosynthesis: Hydrogen evolution by mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride with visible light. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131, 1680–1681.
34. Zhang, J. S.; Chen, Y.; Wang, X. C. Two-dimensional covalent carbon nitride nanosheets: Synthesis, functionalization, and applications. Energy Environ. Sci. 2015, 8, 3092–3108.
35. 4)-based photocatalysts for artificial photosynthesis and environmental remediation: Are we a step closer to achieving sustainability? Chem. Rev. 2016, 116, 7159–7329.
36. Pan, Z. M.; Zheng, Y.; Guo, F. S.; Niu, P. P.; Wang, X. C. Decorating CoP and Pt nanoparticles on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets to promote overall water splitting by conjugated polymers. ChemSusChem, in press, DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201600850.
37. Zheng, D. D.; Cao, X.-N.; Wang, X. C. Precise formation of a hollow carbon nitride structure with a Janus surface to promote water splitting by photoredox catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2016, 55, 11512–11516.
38. 4 photocatalysts without using sacrificial agents. Chem. Sci. 2016, 7, 3062–3066.
39. Zheng, Y.; Lin, L. H.; Wang, B.; Wang, X. C. Graphitic carbon nitride polymers toward sustainable photoredox catalysis. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2015, 54, 12868–12884.
40. 4 photocatalyst to achieve apparent quantum yield of 49% at 420 nm. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 13289–13297.
41. 2. Adv. Energy Mater. 2016, 6, 1601190.
42. 4) via Pt loading with improved daylight-induced photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to methane. Dalton Trans. 2015, 44, 1249–1257.
43. 4 (X = Cl and Br) nanocomposites via a sonication-assisted deposition-precipitation approach: Emerging role of halide ions in the synergistic photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 180, 530–543.
44. 2 to methane. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 858–861.
45. Ma, T. Y.; Dai, S.; Jaroniec, M.; Qiao, S. Z. Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet–carbon nanotube three-dimensional porous composites as high-performance oxygen evolution electrocatalysts. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2014, 53, 7281–7285.
46. Liu, J.; Liu, Y.; Liu, N. Y.; Han, Y. Z.; Zhang, X.; Huang, H.; Lifshitz, Y.; Lee, S.-T.; Zhong, J.; Kang, Z. H. Metal-free efficient photocatalyst for stable visible water splitting via a two-electron pathway. Science 2015, 347, 970–974.
47. Yu, H.; Shi, R.; Zhao, Y.; Waterhouse, G. I. N.; Wu, L.-Z.; Tung, C.-H.; Zhang, T. Smart utilization of carbon dots in semiconductor photocatalysis. Adv. Mater. 2016, 28, 9454–9477.
48. Zhang, H.; Zhao, L. X.; Geng, F. L.; Guo, L.-H.; Wan, B.; Yang, Y. Carbon dots decorated graphitic carbon nitride as an efficient metal-free photocatalyst for phenol degradation. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 180, 656–662.
49. 4. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 185, 225–232.
50. Jian, X.; Liu, X.; Yang, H.-M.; Li, J.-G.; Song, X.-L.; Dai, H.-Y.; Liang, Z.-H. Construction of carbon quantum dots/ proton-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite via electrostatic self-assembly strategy and its application. Appl. Surf. Sci. 2016, 370, 514–521.
51. Guo, Y.; Yao, P. J.; Zhu, D. Q.; Gu, C. A novel method for the development of a carbon quantum dot/carbon nitride hybrid photocatalyst that responds to infrared light irradiation. J. Mater. Chem. A 2015, 3, 13189–13192.
52. 2 evolution by a metal-free photocatalyst. Chem. Commun. 2015, 51, 10899–10902.
53. 2 to methanol. Adv. Energy Mater. 2015, 5, 1401077.
54. 2/carbon dot hybrids with enhanced photocatalytic activity. J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 13563–13571.
55. 2 modified with carbon quantum dots as a high-performance visible light photocatalyst. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 189, 26–38.
56. Liu, G. G.; Zhao, G. X.; Zhou, W.; Liu, Y. Y.; Pang, H.; Zhang, H. B.; Hao, D.; Meng, X. G.; Li, P.; Kako, T. et al. In situ bond modulation of graphitic carbon nitride to construct p–n homojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2016, 26, 6822–6829.
57. Hou, H. S.; Banks, C. E.; Jing, M. J.; Zhang, Y.; Ji, X. B. Carbon quantum dots and their derivative 3D porous carbon frameworks for sodium-ion batteries with ultralong cycle life. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 7861–7866.
58. Zhu, S. J.; Meng, Q. N.; Wang, L.; Zhang, J. H.; Song, Y. B.; Jin, H.; Zhang, K.; Sun, H. C.; Wang, H. Y.; Yang, B. Highly photoluminescent carbon dots for multicolor patterning, sensors, and bioimaging. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 3953–3957.
59. Tian, J.; Leng, Y. H.; Zhao, Z. H.; Xia, Y.; Sang, Y. H.; Hao, P.; Zhan, J.; Li, M. C.; Liu, H. under UV,visible, and near-infrared irradiation. Nano Energy 2015, 11, 419–427.
60. Di, J.; Xia, J. X.; Ji, M. X.; Xu, L.; Yin, S.; Zhang, Q.; Chen, Z. G.; Li, H. M. Carbon quantum dots in situ coupling to bismuth oxyiodide via reactable ionic liquid with enhanced photocatalytic molecular oxygen activation performance. Carbon 2016, 98, 613–623.
61. Yang, P. J.; Zhao, J. H.; Wang, J.; Cui, H. J.; Li, L.; Zhu, Z. P. Pure carbon nanodots for excellent photocatalytic hydrogen generation. RSC Adv. 2015, 5, 21332–21335.
62. Ding, H.; Wei, J.-S.; Xiong, H.-M. Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots with strong blue luminescence. Nanoscale 2014, 6, 13817–13823.
63. Ma, Y. J.; Li, X. L.; Yang, Z.; Xu, S. S.; Zhang, W.; Su, Y. J.; Hu, N. T.; Lu, W. J.; Feng, J.; Zhang, Y. F. Morphology control and photocatalysis enhancement by in situ hybridization of cuprous oxide with nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots. Langmuir 2016, 32, 9418–9427.
64. She, X. J.; Wu, J. J.; Zhong, J.; Xu, H.; Yang, Y. C.; Vajtai, R.; Lou, J.; Liu, Y.; Du, D. L.; Li, H. M. et al. Oxygenated monolayer carbon nitride for excellent photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and external quantum efficiency. Nano Energy 2016, 27, 138–146.
65. Putri, L. K.; Ong, W.-J.; Chang, W. S.; Chai, S.-P. Enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of carbon nitride through hybridization with light-sensitive AgCl for carbon dioxide reduction to methane. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2016, 6, 744–754.
66. 2 photocatalytic conversion. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 17212–17219.
67. 2 ternary nanojunction with enhanced photoelectrochemical activity. Adv. Mater. 2013, 25, 6291–6297.
68. 4 nanosheets under visible light. Small 2016, 12, 4431–4439.
69. 2 evolution. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 193, 248–258.
70. 4 nanosheets for drastic improvement of visible-light photocatalytic activity. Adv. Energy Mater., in press, DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201601273.
71. 4I composite semiconductors. Appl. Catal. B 2016, 183, 426–432.
72. 2 activity under visible light irradiation. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 3765–3775.
73. 3/Cu2O heterostructures under visible light irradiation. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 8631–8639.
74. Fernando, K. A. S.; Sahu, S.; Liu, Y. M.; Lewis, W. K.; Guliants, E. A.; Jafariyan, A.; Wang, P.; Bunker, C. E.; Sun, Y.-P. Carbon quantum dots and applications in photocatalytic energy conversion. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2015, 7, 8363–8376.
75. Zhu, S. J.; Song, Y. B.; Zhao, X. H.; Shao, J. R.; Zhang, J. H.; Yang, B. The photoluminescence mechanism in carbon dots (graphene quantum dots, carbon nanodots, and polymer dots): Current state and future perspective. Nano Res. 2015, 8, 355–381.
76. Zhang, Z. J.; Zheng, T. T.; Li, X. M.; Xu, J. Y.; Zeng, H. B. Progress of carbon quantum dots in photocatalysis applications. Part. Part. Syst. Charact. 2016, 33, 457–472.
77. Ong, W.-J.; Voon, S.-Y.; Tan, L.-L.; Goh, B. T.; Yong, S.-T.; Chai, S.-P. Enhanced daylight-induced photocatalytic activity of solvent exfoliated graphene (SEG)/ZnO hybrid nanocomposites toward degradation of reactive black 5. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2014, 53, 17333–17344.
78. Ong, W.-J.; Yeong, J.-J.; Tan, L.-L.; Goh, B. T.; Yong, S.-T.; Chai, S.-P. Synergistic effect of graphene as a co-catalyst for enhanced daylight-induced photocatalytic activity of Zn0.5Cd0.5S synthesized via an improved one-pot co-precipitationhydrothermal strategy. RSC Adv. 2014, 4, 59676–59685.
79. 2. ACS Catal. 2016, 6, 6861–6867.
80. 4 nanocomposite for enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic activity. ChemSusChem 2016, 9, 2816–2823.
81. 2. ChemSusChem 2014, 7, 1086–1093.
82. Yin, W. J.; Bai, L. J.; Zhu, Y. Z.; Zhong, S. X.; Zhao, L. H.; Li, Z. Q.; Bai, S. Embedding metal in the interface of a p-n heterojunction with a stack design for superior Z-scheme photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2016, 8, 23133–23142.
83. Zhang, Z. Y.; Huang, Y. Z.; Liu, K. C.; Guo, L. J.; Yuan, Q.; Dong, B. Multichannel-improved charge-carrier dynamics in well-designed hetero-nanostructural plasmonic photocatalysts toward highly efficient solar-to-fuels conversion. Adv. Mater. 2015, 27, 5906–5914.
84. 2 composites in the visible region. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2015, 17, 7966–7971.
85. Ma, Z. J.; Sa, R. J.; Li, Q. H.; Wu, K. C. Interfacial electronic structure and charge transfer of hybrid graphene quantum dot and graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites: Insights into high efficiency for photocatalytic solar water splitting. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2016, 18, 1050–1058.