One-step synthesis of few layers g-C3N4 with suitable band structure and enhanced photocatalytic activities

Abstract We report a one-step process to prepare high activity few-layers g-C 3 N 4 by a self-exfoliated method. Two kinds of few layers materials are obtained from heating melamine (M-CN) and urea (U-CN), respectively. Although both materials exhibit similar high specific surface area, the conductive band position of M-CN (-1.89 eV) is obviously lower than U-CN (-1.45 eV). As a result, the M-CN sample exhibits a much higher hydrogen evolution rate than U-CN. Remarkably, the hydrogen evolution rate of M-CN is 37 higher than the bulk. Our results provide a new strategy for the preparing few-layers g-C 3 N 4 for high photocatalytic performance.