Zero-Dimensional/Two-Dimensional Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈ Nanoclusters/g‑C₃N₄ Nanosheets Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production under Visible Light

Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈ nanoclusters/g-C₃N₄ nanosheets composite photocatalysts were fabricated via a facile wet impregnation method. Modifying g-C₃N₄ nanosheets with Au₂₅(Cys)₁₈ nanoclusters led to the enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution under visible light. Such an improvement of activity is attributed to a vast number of junctions formed at the interface between the Au nanoclusters and the g-C₃N₄ nanosheets of the hybrid photocatalysts. The efficient separation of photogenerated charges was thus facilitated by their appropriate interfacial band structures. More importantly, the ultrasmall size Au₂₅ nanoclusters exhibited the resistance to aggregation during the photocatalytic reactions. Thus, the hybrid photocatalysts are not only more active but also more stable than photoreduced Au nanoparicles/g-C₃N₄ composite photocatalysts in the hydrogen production reaction, which make these novel catalysts promising in the application of solar fuels production. The combination of noble metal clusters with g-C₃N₄ materials opens a new window for the design of novel photocatalysts