Porous graphitic carbon nitride nanoplates obtained by a combined exfoliation strategy for enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity

The facile exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) into single- or few-layered nanoplates remains a grand challenge for the fundamental studies and applications of g-C3N4. Herein, we present an efficient tactic for the facile fabrication of few-layered porous g-C3N4 nanoplates using a novel combination of thermal etching and gas-driven exfoliation of bulk g-C3N4. In comparison with the pristine g-C3N4, the few-layered porous g-C3N4 nanoplates displayed modified electronic structures and large specific surface area. Consequently, the obtained g-C3N4 nanoplates after the several exfoliation cycles showed greatly enhanced photocatalytic activities. The average hydrogen (H2) evolution rate of g-C3N4 nanoplates exceeds that of the bulk counterpart by almost 9 times and the photodegradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) increased by about 6-fold under visible light irradiation. Our work provides an efficient method towards the fabrication of porous g-C3N4 nanoplates with impressive photocatalytic performance.