Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Guanidine-Modified Reduced Graphene Oxide as a Photocatalyst of Hydrogen Generation from Water Splitting

Abstract

Concerns about hazardous of fossil fuels for the life of thousands creatures is an enough motivation to many of researchers to work on production of hydrogen as a green fuel. Amongst various methods to generate hydrogen, photocatalytical hydrogen evolution from water splitting is considered as an invaluable approach since enjoys free sources of energy and material. To synthesis an efficient photocatalyst, a common semiconductor of nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide was synthesized by an absolutely simple method, including thermal treatment of citric acid and guanidine. Guanidine provides best spatial arrangement of nitrogen atoms to anchor with a transition metal catalyst, for instance palladium nanoparticles in this research. Palladium nanoparticles supported on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide promoted the water splitting with the turnover frequency of hydrogen generation 306 h^-1 at room temperature. Easy synthesis of the photocatalyst, high yield, additive-free reaction, mild conditions, and re-usability of the photocatalyst are some advantages of the present approach.