Abstract
Blueshift of optical absorption and corresponding widening of the bandgap is a fundamental problem with 2D carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS). An additional problem is low quantum yields (<9%) due to higher loss of absorbed photons. These problems impose a significant restriction to photocatalytic performance of CNNS. Therefore, the synthesis of narrow bandgap CNNS with high quantum efficiency is of pressing research importance. This contribution reports melem‐derived narrow bandgap CNNS with a record‐low bandgap of 2.45 eV. The narrowing in bandgap comes with improved optical absorption and use of visible‐light photons together with excellent charge transport dynamics. This is demonstrated by a record high hydrogen evolution rate of 863 µmol h−1 with apparent quantum efficiency of 16% at 420 nm.
A melem‐derived narrow bandgap carbon nitride nanosheet photocatalyst with a high hydrogen evolution rate is reported. The synthesis of narrow bandgap CNNS with high quantum efficiency is of importance. A record‐low bandgap of 2.45 eV comes with improved optical absorption and shows excellent charge transport dynamics. A high hydrogen evolution rate of 863 µmol h−1 with apparent quantum efficiency of 16% at 420 nm is demonstrated.