Single-atom Pt decorated g-C3N5 nanorods as highly efficient photocatalyst for H2 evolution and wastewater purification

Single-atom Pt decorated g-C3N5 nanorods (Pt SA/C3N5) were synthesized that exhibit highly efficient photocatalytic performance toward H2 evolution and wastewater purification. Implanting single Pt atoms into rod-like g-C3N5 through Pt–N coordination bonds could not only optimize its band structure, but also improve its specific surface area and promote the charge transfer. Therefore, the photocatalytic H2 evolution of Pt SA/C3N5 (444.2 μmol g−1 h−1) is about 4.4 times higher than that of C3N5 (102.0 μmol g−1 h−1), and its apparent quantum efficiency can reach 0.47 % at 420 nm. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of Pt SA/C3N5 for Rhodamine B, Methylene blue and Malachite green is about 2.5, 1.6 and 1.5 times higher than that of C3N5, respectively. Moreover, Pt SA/C3N5 exhibits excellent stability on both the H2 evolution and wastewater purification. This research provides a neoteric way to build efficient photocatalysts that can be applied to energy and environment.