Nitrogen, sulphur co-doped carbon quantum dots scaffolded on TiO2 nanoparticles towards efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

Abstract

The solar-to-hydrogen conversion photocatalysts based on carbon quantum dots based nanomaterials have demonstrated significant promise in the realm of renewable energy. Here in, we reported a facile synthesis of nitrogen Sulphur co-doped carbon dots decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles (NSCT) as robust and efficient photocatalyst for visible light driven photocatalytic hydrogen production, and also its photocatalytic H₂ production activity has been related with nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles (NCT), sulphur doped carbon quantum dots decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles (PCT), carbon quantum dots decorated TiO₂ nanoparticles (CT), NSCQDS and TiO₂ nanoparticles. The developed NSCT nanocomposite showed 11 times higher generation of hydrogen as compared with bare TiO₂ nanostructures. The enhanced hydrogen production activity of NSCT nanocomposite is due to its improved absorption capacity in the visible region and due to suppression in the decay life time of photogenerated electrons as well as reduction in the work function(WF) of NSCT nanocomposites compared to other nanocomposites.