Hollow graphene with apparent potential difference to boost charge directional transfer for photocatalytic H2 evolution

Abstract g-C3N4 was in situ rooted into hollow graphene (g-C3N4@HG) for photocatalytic H2O dissociation into H2 by vacuum-filling thermal polymerization. Characterizations and DFT calculations reveal that deviation of graphene (GR) into HG results in the activation of carbon π electrons, and the apparent potential difference between inner and outer surfaces of HG boosts charge directional transfer from the rooted g-C3N4 to HG. H2 evolution efficiency of g-C3N4@HG is 1.43 mmol∙g-1h-1 without any noble metal as cocatalyst under visible irradiation, which is even more than 2.86, and 1.72 times that of g-C3N4 with 3 wt.% Pt, and g-C3N4/GR with 1 wt.% Pt, respectively. Results in the field of solar energy conversion supply a novel strategy to boost directional charge transfer for H2 evolution by utilizing apparent potential difference of HG.