Distinctive Improved Synthesis and Application Extensions Graphdiyne for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Abstract Graphdiyne (GD), a novel two‐dimension carbon hybrid material, due to its unique and excellent properties, has been widely concerned since this innovative material was successfully synthesized by Prof. Yuliang Li in 2010. Traditionally, its synthesis method is growing graphdiyne on copper foils or foam copper as a base catalytic material to deliver copper ions (Cu 2+ ) under pyridine conditions. Here, an innovative progress for graphdiyne preparation approach of using Cu + ion as a catalytic material is reported and its application in extending to the photocatalytic water‐splitting to produce hydrogen in situ as well. In detail, by means of cuprous iodide used as a catalyst‐carrier to grow a graphdiyne in a pyridine solution of monomeric hexynylbenzene and such CuI‐graphdiyne composite catalyst is directly applied to photocatalytic hydrogen production in situ. Meanwhile, the hydrogen production of GD and CuI are 29.42 μmol/5 h and 156.49 μmol/5 h, respectively. In particular, the composite catalyst GD‐CuI exhibits an optimum photo‐catalytic hydrogen production activity (465.95 μmol/5 h) which is 15.8 times and 3.0 times that of pure GD and CuI respectively. This rational design, one‐step construction of GD‐CuI, successfully enhances photo‐catalytic hydrogen evolution activity. The deeper characterization study results such as TEM, SEM, XPS, XRD, UV‐vis DRS, Transient photocurrent and FT‐IR etc. have been well researched and the results of which are in good agreement with each other.