A candy-like photocatalyst by wrapping Co, N-co-doped hollow carbon sphere with ultrathin mesoporous carbon nitride for boosted photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hierarchical carbon material is used as a star cocatalyst in the field of photocatalysis due to its excellent catalytic properties. In this work, mesoporous carbon nitride sheet (MCNS) photocatalyst introduced nitrogen-doped hollow carbon spheres assembled with cobalt nanoparticles (Co@NHC) is synthesized by electrostatic adsorption. A series of characterizations are analyzed to display the structures, morphologies and optical properties of as-prepared materials. The photocatalytic activity of Co@NHC/MCNS material is evaluated with hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. The results indicate that 5 wt% Co@NHC/MCNS material reveals higher photocatalytic activity of hydrogen evolution rate of 3675 µmol/g with 4 h reaction time, which is 159 times than that of pure MCNS material. The carbon material with excellent charge transport properties can effectively accelerate the charge transfer from ultrathin MCNS to cobalt nanoparticles. The goal of improving the photocatalytic performance of Co@NHC/MCNS material is achieved. As a result, it provides a feasible and promised approach for doping transition metals to enhance photocatalytic activity.