Synergistic effect of oxygen and nitrogen functionalities for graphene-based quantum dots used in photocatalytic H2 production from water decomposition

Nitrogen-doped graphene oxide quantum dots, which are based on the abundant elements C, H, O, and N, exhibit a single-crystalline structure consisting of one to three graphene sheets. The quantum dots, when deposited with Pt as cocatalyst for photocatalytic water splitting, steadily catalyze H2 production from an aqueous solution containing triethanolamine at a high quantum yield under visible light illumination.139