Facile fabrication of nickel/porous g-C3N4 by using carbon dot as template for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production

Ni/porous g-C₃N₄ was prepared by high temperature thermal polymerization process using carbon dots as soft template and photodeposition. With nickel nanoparticles supported as co-catalyst, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity of the photocatalyst has been significantly enhanced under visible light, which is up to 1273.58 μmol g^?1 h^?1, superior to pristine g-C₃N₄ (4.12 μmol g^?1 h^?1). This is attributed to the inhibited recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and the much better electron transport efficiency. The formed porous structure of carbon nitride could facilitate light utilization and together with nickel nanoparticles, better charge separation can be realized which are proved by the photoluminescence, time-resolved photoluminescence spectra, transient photocurrent measurements and electrochemical impendence spectroscopy. This work provides a useful route to obtain less expensive and efficient photocatalyst containing no noble metals for hydrogen production.