Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted considerable attention since its discovery for its catalysis

of water splitting to hydrogen and oxygen under visible light irradiation. However, pristine g-C3N4 confers only low

photocatalytic efficiency and requires surface cocatalysts to reach moderate activity due to a lack of accessible surface

active sites. Inspired by the high specific surface area and superior electron transfer of graphene, we developed a

strongly coupled binary structure of graphene and g-C3N4 aerogel with 3D porous skeleton. The as-prepared 3D

structure photocatalysts achieve a high surface area that favors efficient photogenerated charge separation and transfer,

enhances the light-harvesting efficiency, and significantly improves the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate as well.

The photocatalyst performance is observed to be optimized at the ratio 3:7 (g-C3N4:GO), leading to photocatalytic H2

evolution of 16125.1 mmol. g-1. h-1 under visible light irradiation, more than 161 times higher than the rate achieved by

bulk g-C3N4.

Graphitic carbon nitride, Graphene, 3D aerogel, Hydrogen evolution, High surface area

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