Facile synthesis of all carbon-based cocatalyst assists carbon nitride nanotubes with effective photocatalytic H2 evolution

All carbon-based CG/M − CN rectangular nanotubes have been constructed by a facile molten salt thermal condensation of melamine and glucose. In the molten salt fluid, the glucose is carbonized into graphene-like (CG) nanosheets acting as an electron acceptor, and the melamine thermally condenses into carbon nitride (M − CN) rectangular nanotube acting as an electron donor. The 0.5 wt% CG/M − CN nanotubes display a photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 2345 μmol h−1 g−1, which is 1.52 times higher than that of M-CN. Moreover, without loading Pt co-catalyst, the 0.5 wt% CG/M − CN nanotubes show a 12.75 times higher photocatalytic H2 evolution rate than that of M-CN. It is revealed that the graphene-like CG nanosheets not only can act as an electron acceptor boosting charge carrier separation, but also function as a HER cocatalyst for M-CN. Our work provides a new insight for the development of all carbon-based photocatalysts for energy-related applications.