Ultrathin perylene imide nanosheet with fast charge transfer enhances photocatalytic performance

The ultrathin perylene imide (PDI) nanosheet with a thickness of about 0.8 nm has been successfully synthesized. The steric effect and enhanced hydrogen bonding of phthalic acid substituted PDI (PDI-phthalic) contribute to the ultrathin nanosheet structure. PDI-phthalic not only has a high photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 1.1 mmol g−1 h−1, but also possesses an efficient photocatalytic phenol degradation performance, which is 3.0 and 29.0 times higher than self-assembled PDI and g-C3N4, respectively. The ultrathin nanosheet shortens the charge transmission distance, thereby promoting the separation of photogenerated carriers. Hence, the ultrathin nanosheet structure regulated via steric effect and hydrogen bonding provides new ideas for the design of organic photocatalysts.