Mesoporous g-C3N4 nanosheets with improved photocatalytic performance for hydrogen evolution

Abstract Mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets are fabricated by ultrasonically exfoliating the bulk g-C3N4 in sulfuric acid aqueous solution. In comparison with the bulk counterpart, the as-prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets have a higher specific surface area, narrower bandgap, better light response and lower charge transfer resistance. Consequently, the mesoporous g-C3N4 nanosheets exhibit a 3.3-fold photocatalytic hydrogen evolution when irradiated with visible light. The improved photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4 nanosheets is mainly because of the increased specific surface area, abundant mesopores and narrowed bandgap, which would increase the reactive sites, shorten carriers transfer paths and improve their light absorption ability as well.