Graphene quantum dots piecing together into graphene on nano Au for overall water splitting

Utilizing photocatalysts to split water into H-2 and H2O2 simultaneously is an ideal but challenging process to obtain clean H-2 energy and high valuable H2O2. Most of the photocatalysts currently studied for the overall water splitting are converting water into H-2 and O-2, resulting in further need of gas separation. Here, we reported a photocatalyst which can utilize the nano-Au based localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect to produce H-2 and H2O2 simultaneously. Nitrogen doped graphene quantum dots (N-GQDs) pieced together into large graphene through a catalytic process by chloroauric acid, in which dodecahedron nano-Au particles can also be obtained concurrently. Then Au wrapped up by graphene can be in situ formed with good interfaces. Photocatalytic activity tests revealed that the as prepared graphene@Au catalysts show efficient photocatalytic overall water splitting activity with a H-2 evolution rate of 65.6 mu mol g(-1) h(-1) and H2O2 generation rate of 49.7 mu mol g(-1) h(-1). This work provides a feasible route for the facile fabrication of graphene through the bottom-up polycondensation of N-GQDs by amide bonds and new insights into the synthesis of photocatalysts for overall water splitting into H-2 and H2O2. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.