Efficient Photocatalytic Activity of CoNPs@CN Under Visible Light Irradiation

We have prepared CoNPs@CN that cobalt nanoparticles(CoNPs) dispersed uniformly in the carbon matrix Composite (CN) via a facile and controllable method. Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-V spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). CoNPs@CN exhibited favorable photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The results of quenching and photoluminescence experiments reveal the generation of main active species (center dot OH and center dot O-2(-) radicals). The producing mechanism of active species can be attributed to that CoNPs@CN absorb photons and generate photogenerated electrons through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, then H2O and O-2 in the solution react with the photogenerated hole and electrons to produce center dot OH and center dot O-2(-) radicals.