Making co-condensed amorphous carbon/g-C3N4 composites with improved visible-light photocatalytic H2-production performance using Pt as cocatalyst
TL;DR: In this article, a novel composites comprising amorphous carbon and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) were fabricated via facial one-step thermal condensation of glucose and urea precursors.
About: This article is published in Carbon.The article was published on 2017-07-01. It has received 333 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Amorphous carbon & Graphitic carbon nitride.
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TL;DR: In this article, a review summarizes the recent significant progress on the design of g-C3N4-based heterostructured photocatalysts and their special separation/transfer mechanisms of photogenerated charge carriers.
Abstract: Photocatalysis is considered as one of the promising routes to solve the energy and environmental crises by utilizing solar energy. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has attracted worldwide attention due to its visible-light activity, facile synthesis from low-cost materials, chemical stability, and unique layered structure. However, the pure g-C3N4 photocatalyst still suffers from its low separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers, which results in unsatisfactory photocatalytic activity. Recently, g-C3N4-based heterostructures have become research hotspots for their greatly enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency and photocatalytic performance. According to the different transfer mechanisms of photogenerated charge carriers between g-C3N4 and the coupled components, the g-C3N4-based heterostructured photocatalysts can be divided into the following categories: g-C3N4-based conventional type II heterojunction, g-C3N4-based Z-scheme heterojunction, g-C3N4-based p–n heterojunction, g-C3N4/metal heterostructure, and g-C3N4/carbon heterostructure. This review summarizes the recent significant progress on the design of g-C3N4-based heterostructured photocatalysts and their special separation/transfer mechanisms of photogenerated charge carriers. Moreover, their applications in environmental and energy fields, e.g., water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, and degradation of pollutants, are also reviewed. Finally, some concluding remarks and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for exploring advanced g-C3N4-based heterostructured photocatalysts are presented.
1,759 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors soberly reflect the charge transfer mechanism from many perspectives and are finally aware of the fundamental challenges they face to ensure a correct understanding, it is necessary to share their analysis with others Moreover, step-scheme heterojunctions, consisting of a reduction photocatalyst and an oxidizer with staggered band structure, are introduced to avoid misinterpretation.
1,636 citations
TL;DR: A panorama of the latest advancements in the rational design and development of semiconductor polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts for visible-light-induced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is presented in this paper.
Abstract: Semiconductor polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts have attracted dramatically growing attention in the field of the visible-light-induced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) because of their facile synthesis, easy functionalization, attractive electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability and photocatalytic activity. This review article presents a panorama of the latest advancements in the rational design and development of g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based composite photocatalysts for HER application. Concretely, the review starts with the development history, synthetic strategy, electronic structure and physicochemical characteristics of g-C3N4 materials, followed by the rational design and engineering of various nanostructured g-C3N4 (e.g. thinner, highly crystalline, doped, and porous g-C3N4) photocatalysts for HER application. Then a series of highly efficient g-C3N4 (e.g., metal/g-C3N4, semiconductor/g-C3N4, metal organic framework/g-C3N4, carbon/g-C3N4, conducting polymer/g-C3N4, sensitizer/g-C3N4) composite photocatalysts are exemplified. Lastly, this review provides a comprehensive summary and outlook on the major challenges, opportunities, and inspiring perspectives for future research in this hot area on the basis of pioneering works. It is believed that the emerging g-C3N4-based photocatalysts will act as the “holy grail” for highly efficient photocatalytic HER under visible-light irradiation.
717 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the basic principles, photocatalytic-reactor design, kinetics, key findings, and the mechanism of metal-doped TiO2 are comprehensively reviewed.
Abstract: Hydrogen (H2) production via photocatalytic water splitting is one of the most promising technologies for clean solar energy conversion to emerge in recent decades. The achievement of energy production from water splitting would mean that we could use water as a fuel for future energy need. Among the various photocatalytic materials, titanium dioxide (TiO2) is the dominant and most widely studied because of its exceptional physico-chemical characteristics. Surface decoration of metal/non-metal on TiO2 nanoparticles is an outstanding technique to revamp its electronic properties and enrich the H2 production efficiency. Metal dopants play a vital role in separation of electron-hole pairs on the TiO2 surface during UV/visible/simulated solar light irradiation. In this paper, the basic principles, photocatalytic-reactor design, kinetics, key findings, and the mechanism of metal-doped TiO2 are comprehensively reviewed. We found that Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model is commonly employed by the researchers to demonstrate the rate of H2 production. Copper (Cu), gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) are the most widely studied dopants for TiO2, owing to their superior work function. The metal dopants can amplify the H2 production efficiency of TiO2 through Schottky barrier formation, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), generation of gap states by interaction with TiO2 VB states. The recent advances and important consequences of 2D materials, perovskites, and other novel photocatalysts for H2 generation have also been reviewed.
609 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review of photo-catalysts, fabrication of novel heterojunction constructions and factors influencing the photocatalytic process for dynamic H2 production have been discussed.
506 citations
References
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TL;DR: It is shown that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor.
Abstract: The production of hydrogen from water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal future energy source, independent of fossil reserves. For an economical use of water and solar energy, catalysts that are sufficiently efficient, stable, inexpensive and capable of harvesting light are required. Here, we show that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor. Contrary to other conducting polymer semiconductors, carbon nitride is chemically and thermally stable and does not rely on complicated device manufacturing. The results represent an important first step towards photosynthesis in general where artificial conjugated polymer semiconductors can be used as energy transducers.
9,751 citations
TL;DR: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent.
Abstract: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent Many oxides consisting of metal cations with d0 and d10 configurations, metal (oxy)sulfide and metal (oxy)nitride photocatalysts have been reported, especially during the latest decade The fruitful photocatalyst library gives important information on factors affecting photocatalytic performances and design of new materials Photocatalytic water splitting and H2 evolution using abundant compounds as electron donors are expected to contribute to construction of a clean and simple system for solar hydrogen production, and a solution of global energy and environmental issues in the future (361 references)
8,850 citations
TL;DR: It is anticipated that this review can stimulate a new research doorway to facilitate the next generation of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts with ameliorated performances by harnessing the outstanding structural, electronic, and optical properties for the development of a sustainable future without environmental detriment.
Abstract: As a fascinating conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become a new research hotspot and drawn broad interdisciplinary attention as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in the arena of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. This is due to its appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, and “earth-abundant” nature. This critical review summarizes a panorama of the latest progress related to the design and construction of pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, including (1) nanoarchitecture design of bare g-C3N4, such as hard and soft templating approaches, supramolecular preorganization assembly, exfoliation, and template-free synthesis routes, (2) functionalization of g-C3N4 at an atomic level (elemental doping) and molecular level (copolymerization), and (3) modification of g-C3N4 with well-matched energy levels of another semiconductor or a metal as a cocatalyst to form heterojunction nanostructures. The constructi...
5,054 citations
TL;DR: This work synthesized uniform anatase TiO2 single crystals with a high percentage (47 per cent) of {001} facets using hydrofluoric acid as a morphology controlling agent and demonstrates that for fluorine-terminated surfaces this relative stability is reversed.
Abstract: [Yang, Hua Gui; Sun, Cheng Hua; Qiao, Shi Zhang; Liu, Gang; Smith, Sean Campbell; Lu, Gao Qing] Univ Queensland, ARC Ctr Excellence Funct Nanomat, Sch Engn, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia. [Yang, Hua Gui; Sun, Cheng Hua; Qiao, Shi Zhang; Liu, Gang; Smith, Sean Campbell; Lu, Gao Qing] Univ Queensland, Australian Inst Bioengn & Nanotechnol, Ctr Computat Mol Sci, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia. [Zou, Jin] Univ Queensland, Ctr Microscopy & Microanal, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia. [Zou, Jin] Univ Queensland, Sch Engn, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia. [Liu, Gang; Cheng, Hui Ming] Chinese Acad Sci, Met Res Inst, Shenyang Natl Lab Mat sci, Shenyang 110016, Peoples R China.;Lu, GQ (reprint author), Univ Queensland, ARC Ctr Excellence Funct Nanomat, Sch Engn, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia;s.qiao@uq.edu.au maxlu@uq.edu.au
3,656 citations
TL;DR: The design and fabrication of a metal-free carbon nanodot–carbon nitride (C3N4) nanocomposite is reported and its impressive performance for photocatalytic solar water splitting is demonstrated.
Abstract: The use of solar energy to produce molecular hydrogen and oxygen (H2 and O2) from overall water splitting is a promising means of renewable energy storage. In the past 40 years, various inorganic and organic systems have been developed as photocatalysts for water splitting driven by visible light. These photocatalysts, however, still suffer from low quantum efficiency and/or poor stability. We report the design and fabrication of a metal-free carbon nanodot-carbon nitride (C3N4) nanocomposite and demonstrate its impressive performance for photocatalytic solar water splitting. We measured quantum efficiencies of 16% for wavelength λ = 420 ± 20 nanometers, 6.29% for λ = 580 ± 15 nanometers, and 4.42% for λ = 600 ± 10 nanometers, and determined an overall solar energy conversion efficiency of 2.0%. The catalyst comprises low-cost, Earth-abundant, environmentally friendly materials and shows excellent stability.
3,553 citations