Process for preparation of 2-d nanostructured sheet based photocatalyst and application thereof

A process for microwave assisted preparation of atomically dispersed Ni modified (2-D) nanostructured sheets based photocatalyst (mpg-C3NxNi) wherein x is in a range of 3 to 4, exhibiting solar hydrogen at the rate ranging from 200000 μmolg−1h−1 to 1000000 μmolg−1h−1 under sunlight, comprising the steps of:

• i. adding carbon and nitrogen source (precursor) species in a Ludox solution to obtain a reaction precursor with the concentration ratio of 2:3 to 2:6;
• ii. adding etchant ammonium hydrogen difluoride with the concentration ranging from 2-5 M to the reaction precursor for removing the Ludox template followed by washing to obtain a mesoporous mpg-C3Nx;
• iii. adding Nickel source (precursor) species at different concentrations (in the range of 0.15 mM to 0.60 mM) in ethylene glycol and subsequently to the product obtained at step (ii) wherein Ni concentration is in a range of 2 to 10% with respect to mesoporous mpg-C3Nx to obtain a first mixture;
• iv. adding sodium hydroxide with a hydrazine source in a volume ratio in a range of 1:30 to 1:300 into the first mixture and allowing to reflux at 65° C. for 5 hours to obtain a reaction mixture;
• and
• v. microwave heat treatment of the solution as obtained in step (iv) for a period in a range of 10 minutes to 30 minutes at a temperature in a range of 120-150° C. to obtain the atomically dispersed Ni modified mpg-C3Nx—Ni.