Search

Abstract Many recent advances in constructing green metal-free materials have opened new possibilities in catalysis. To explore and enhance the photocatalytic performance of g-C 3 N 4 quantum dots (CN QDs), the metal-free materials of CN QDs embedded in the h-BN was successfully synthesized by calcination the mixture of melamine and h-BN. The studies proved the CNBN has appeared red-shift due to the quantum size effect and 2D h-BN. The CN QDs were embedded into the h-BN could not only facilitate the separation and transfer, but also the h-BN terminated with OH groups could act as active sites, thus enhanced the photocatalytic performance. Moreover, this work may pave the way for the application of CN QDs and fabricate 2D h-BN composites for green metal-free materials in another field. Graphical abstract A free-metal composites for environmental pollution treatment. Unlabelled Image Highlights • A metal-free materials were synthesized by the one-pot green procedure. • The composites were exhibited red-shift for increasing light absorption. • The efficiency of electrons separation and transfer enhanced the lifetime of active species. • The OH groups acted as active sites further improved the photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]