Construction of carbon quantum dots/proton-functionalized graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite via electrostatic self-assembly strategy and its application

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), as advanced metal-free material catalysts have been the focus of considerable attention because of their superior photocatalytic activities. In this study, we developed a novel approach to obtain CQDs/g-C3N4 nanocomposite with effective interfacial contact by incorporating negatively charged CQDs and tailor-made proton-functionalized g-C3N4via the electrostatic self-assembly strategy. Then, the morphology and microstructure of the new nanocomposite were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The CQDs and proton-functionalized g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited excellent electron transfer properties though electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), significantly enhanced photoactivity in the photoelectrochemical i-t curve test and degradation of methylene blue solution under visible light irradiation. These results demonstrated that the electrostatic self-assembly strategy process is a promising method of fabricating uniform metal-free material catalysts for an extensive range of applications.