Nitrogen, sulphur co-doped carbon quantum dots scaffolded on TiO2 nanoparticles towards efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution

• NSCQDs/TiO 2 composites were prepared by a simple and energy-efficient hydrothermal method at room temperature. • Nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon quantum dots (N,S-CQDs) significantly improve the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution efficiency of TiO 2 nanoparticles . • N,S-CQDs act as electron reservoirs, reducing charge carrier recombination and facilitating efficient charge transfer. • The strong interaction between N,S-CQDs and TiO 2 enhances the catalyst’s durability and protects TiO 2 from photo-corrosion under prolonged light exposure. • The facile synthesis and synergistic effect of N,S-CQDs on TiO 2 provide an eco-friendly and scalable approach for next-generation photocatalysts in green hydrogen production . The solar-to-hydrogen conversion photocatalysts based on carbon quantum dots based nanomaterials have demonstrated significant promise in the realm of renewable energy. Here in, we reported a facile synthesis of nitrogen Sulphur co-doped carbon dots decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles (NSCT) as robust and efficient photocatalyst for visible light driven photocatalytic hydrogen production , and also its photocatalytic H 2 production activity has been related with nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles (NCT), sulphur doped carbon quantum dots decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles (PCT), carbon quantum dots decorated TiO 2 nanoparticles (CT), NSCQDS and TiO 2 nanoparticles. The developed NSCT nanocomposite showed 11 times higher generation of hydrogen as compared with bare TiO 2 nanostructures. The enhanced hydrogen production activity of NSCT nanocomposite is due to its improved absorption capacity in the visible region and due to suppression in the decay life time of photogenerated electrons as well as reduction in the work function(WF) of NSCT nanocomposites compared to other nanocomposites.