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

Abstract Development of superior heterogeneous photocatalyst for hydrogen (H2) 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 H2 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 H2 production with a HER of about 400 μmol h−1 than pristine ND (197 μmol h−1). Additionally, this H2 generation dramatically enhances the quantum yield, indicating the H2 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.