Tailoring surface charge distribution of carbon dots through heteroatoms for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

We have developed a facile and effective method to prepare chlorine and phosphorus-functionalized carbon dots (CDs) and investigated what the roles of these heteroatoms are played in carbon dot properties. Our researches suggested that Cl and P elements incorporated in superficial carbon atoms could tailor charge distribution on the surface of CDs, facilitating more effective photogenerated charge separation. Therefore, Cl and P-functionalized CDs show much higher photocatalytic activities than Cl and P-free CDs and commercial TiO2. This work gains an insight into how to effectively tune the photogenerated charge behaviors of CDs to achieve excellent properties.