Green synthesized carbon quantum dots as TiO2 sensitizers for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have attracted growing interest due to their superior luminescent properties, which make them excellent photosensitizers for TiO2. This study presents the green-synthesis of CQDs from edible mushroom Agaricus bisporus through microwave irradiation. In the study as-synthesized CQDs were used as a sensitizer for TiO2 in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in aqueous triethanolamine (sacrificial reagent) under visible-light irradiation. Photocatalytic hydrogen production activity of CQD-sensitized TiO2 was found to be 472 μmol g−1 h−1 (without loading any noble metal co-catalyst) and 1458 μmol g−1 h−1 (with loading Pt co-catalyst). The study revealed that the CQDs from mushroom A. bisporus can be used as an efficient sensitizer for TiO2 in photocatalytic hydrogen production.