Graphitic carbon nitride (CN) synthetized by the thermal polycondensation of melamine at 550 °C for 4 h was further exfoliated by heating at 500 °C for 3 h. Silver cations were adsorbed on the exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride (CNE) and then reduced by sodium borohydride forming silver nanoclusters (NCs) with a size of less than 1 nm. The NCs were located on the CNE surface and did not change the CNE properties except for its pore size distribution and thereby specific surface area (SSA). The Ag NCs were able to collect the photoinduced electrons of CNE and thus reduce their recombination with the holes. It was also documented by the increase in the CNE photocatalytic activity in terms of the degradation of antibiotic Ofloxacin. This study demonstrates the ability of CNE to serve as a platform for a simple and fast synthesis of Ag NCs without any stabilizing compounds.

Chuiko Institute of Surface Chemistry of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine General Naumov Street 17 Kyiv 03164 Ukraine

Department of Chemistry Faculty of Materials Science and Technology VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 listopadu 15 708 00 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals Czech Academy of Science Rozvojová 1 165 02 Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Environmental Technology CEET VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 listopadu 15 70800 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

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