Optimizing electronic structure and charge transport of sulfur/potassium co‐doped graphitic carbon nitride with efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance

Recently, graphitic carbon nitride (CN) has been widely investigated for solar energy conversion through water splitting, but its low photocatalytic activity needs to be further improved and optimized. Herein, S/K co‐doped CN photocatalysts have been fabricated by condensation of thiourea and dithiooxamide followed by post‐treatment in molten salt. As evidenced by XRD patterns and UV–vis DRS plots, the engineering crystalline and electronic structure of all as‐prepared samples have been explored through tailoring the mass ratio of thiourea and dithiooxamide as well as ratio of molten salt/the precursor. After optimization, the as‐prepared S/K co‐doped CN photocatalysts with needle‐like nanorods structure exhibit excellent hydrogen evolution rate of 1962.10 μmol^?1 g^?1 h^?1. While its photocatalytic activity is lower than that of pure CN by molten salt treatment (K‐doped CN) (2066.40 μmol^?1 g^?1 h^?1), which results from that the K content of S/K co‐doped CN photocatalyst is lower than that of K‐doped CN. Moreover, compared with K‐doped CN, S/K co‐doped CN photocatalyst possesses higher photocatalytic performance when irradiated by a light source (λ > 520 nm). This might be ascribed to the fact that the introduction of sulfur can expand light absorption region (λ > 520 nm), whereas K cannot improve light absorption of CN in this wavelength region. Furthermore, DFT calculation reveals that both S and K atoms can offer more electrons to band gap, leading to the formation of metallic‐character band structure. In addition, K atom can intercalate in the interlayer of CN and bridge the adjacent two layers, leading to the formation of charge delivery channels. These results demonstrate that S/K co‐doped CN photocatalysts facilitate the separation and transport of photogenerated charge carries, resulting in the efficient photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution. Besides, a competition between sulfur and potassium atom during the synthesis process is also discussed in details.     

Crystallinity Modulation of Layered Carbon Nitride for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities

As an emerging metal‐free semiconductor, covalently bonded carbon nitride (CN) has attracted much attention in photocatalysis. However, drawbacks such as a high recombination rate of excited electrons and holes hinder its potential applications. Tailoring the crystallinity of semiconductors is an important way to suppress unwanted charge recombination, but has rarely been applied to CN so far. Herein, a simple method to synthesize CN of high crystallinity by protonation of specific intermediate species during conventional polymerization is reported. Interestingly, the as‐obtained CN exhibited improved photocatalytic activities of up to seven times those of the conventional bulk CN. This approach, with only a slight change to the conventional method, provides a facile way to effectively regulate the crystallinity of bulk CN to improve its photocatalytic activities and sheds light on large‐scale industrial applications of CN with high efficiency for sustainable energy.     

Harvesting Solar Light with Crystalline Carbon Nitrides for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Described herein is the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution using crystalline carbon nitrides (CNs) obtained by supramolecular aggregation followed by ionic melt polycondensation (IMP) using melamine and 2,4,6‐triaminopyrimidine as a dopant. The solid state NMR spectrum of ¹⁵N‐enriched CN confirms the triazine as a building unit. Controlling the amount and arrangements of dopants in the CN structure can dramatically enhance the photocatalytic performance for H₂ evolution. The polytriazine imide (PTI) exhibits the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 15 % at 400 nm. This method successfully enables a substantial amount of visible light to be harvested for H₂ evolution, and provides a promising route for the rational design of a variety of highly active crystalline CN photocatalysts.     

Rare‐Earth Single Erbium Atoms for Enhanced Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

The solar‐driven photocatalytic reduction of CO₂ (CO₂RR) into chemical fuels is a promising route to enrich energy supplies and mitigate CO₂ emissions. However, low catalytic efficiency and poor selectivity, especially in a pure‐water system, hinder the development of photocatalytic CO₂RR owing to the lack of effective catalysts. Herein, we report a novel atom‐confinement and coordination (ACC) strategy to achieve the synthesis of rare‐earth single erbium (Er) atoms supported on carbon nitride nanotubes (Er₁/CN‐NT) with a tunable dispersion density of single atoms. Er₁/CN‐NT is a highly efficient and robust photocatalyst that exhibits outstanding CO₂RR performance in a pure‐water system. Experimental results and density functional theory calculations reveal the crucial role of single Er atoms in promoting photocatalytic CO₂RR.     

Boosting Visible‐Light‐Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with an Integrated Nickel Phosphide–Carbon Nitride System

Solar light harvesting by photocatalytic H₂ evolution from water could solve the problem of greenhouse gas emission from fossil fuels with alternative clean energy. However, the development of more efficient and robust catalytic systems remains a great challenge for the technological use on a large scale. Here we report the synthesis of a sol–gel prepared mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (sg‐CN) combined with nickel phosphide (Ni₂P) which acts as a superior co‐catalyst for efficient photocatalytic H₂ evolution by visible light. This integrated system shows a much higher catalytic activity than the physical mixture of Ni₂P and sg‐CN or metallic nickel on sg‐CN under similar conditions. Time‐resolved photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopic studies revealed that the enhanced carrier transfer at the Ni₂P–sg‐CN heterojunction is the prime source for improved activity.     

Strong‐Base‐Assisted Synthesis of a Crystalline Covalent Triazine Framework with High Hydrophilicity via Benzylamine Monomer for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Methods to synthesize crystalline covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs) are limited and little attention has been paid to development of hydrophilic CTFs and photocatalytic overall water splitting. A route to synthesize crystalline and hydrophilic CTF‐HUST‐A1 with a benzylamine‐functionalized monomer is presented. The base reagent used plays an important role in the enhancement of crystallinity and hydrophilicity. CTF‐HUST‐A1 exhibits good crystallinity, excellent hydrophilicity, and excellent photocatalytic activity in sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (hydrogen evolution rate up to 9200 μmol g^?1 h^?1). Photocatalytic overall water splitting is achieved by depositing dual co‐catalysts in CTF‐HUST‐A1, with H₂ evolution and O₂ evolution rates of 25.4 μmol g^?1 h^?1 and 12.9 μmol g^?1 h^?1 in pure water without using sacrificial agent.     

Photophysics and Photocatalysis of Melem: A Spectroscopic Reinvestigation

Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) is one potential metal‐free photocatalyst. The photocatalytic mechanism of g‐CN is related to the heptazine ring building unit. Melem is the simplest heptazine‐based compound and g‐CN is its polymeric product. Thus, studies on the photophysical properties of melem will help to understand the photocatalytic mechanism of heptazine‐based materials. Herein, the spectroscopic features of melem were systematically explored through measuring its absorption spectrum, fluorescence spectrum, and fluorescence decay. Both fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence decay measurements show that the condensation of melamine to melem causes stronger photoluminescence, whereas the condensation of melem to g‐CN causes weaker photoluminescence. In addition, all observations reveal that a mixture of monomer melem and its higher condensates is more easily obtained during the preparation of melem, and that the higher condensates of melem affect the photophysical properties of melem dominantly. The photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of melem has also been measured and the monomer melem has negligible photoinduced water‐splitting activity.     

Highly Efficient Photocatalysts and Continuous‐Flow Photocatalytic Reactors for Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Wastewater

One of the most important applications for photocatalysis is engineered water treatment that photodegrades organic pollutants in wastewater at low cost. To overcome the low efficiency of batch degradation methods, continuous‐flow photocatalytic reactors have been proposed and have become the most promising method for mass water treatment. However, most commercial semiconductor photocatalysts are granular nanoparticles with low activity and a narrow active light wavelength band; this creates difficulties for direct use in continuous‐flow photocatalytic reactors. Therefore, a high‐performance photodegradation photocatalyst with proper morphology or structure is key for continuous photocatalytic degradation. Moreover, a well‐designed photocatalytic device is another important component for continuous‐flow photocatalysis and determines the efficiency of photocatalysis in practical water treatment. This review describes the basic design principles and synthesis of photocatalysts with excellent performance and special morphologies suitable for a filtering photocatalysis process. Certain promising continuous photodegradation reactors are also categorized and summarized. Additionally, selected scientific and technical problems that must be urgently solved are suggested.     

设计p-n同质结构实现碳氮光催化剂的全解水性能

非金属氮化碳(CN)因其独特的光催化性能而备受关注.本文利用水热处理、高温烧结、高能球磨和烧结的方法成功制得一种具有混合结构的CN光催化剂.先以三聚氰胺为原料进行水热处理(180 ℃,24 h),过滤干燥后,转移到高纯氩气保护下的管式炉中,于550 ℃处理1 h得到CN材料.然后将CN用三聚氰胺和氟化铵水热180 ℃处...     

Carbon Nitride Aerogels for the Photoredox Conversion of Water

Aerogel structures have attracted increasing research interest in energy storage and conversion owing to their unique structural features, and a variety of materials have been engineered into aerogels, including carbon‐based materials, metal oxides, linear polymers and even metal chalcogenides. However, manufacture of aerogels from nitride‐based materials, particularly the emerging light‐weight carbon nitride (CN) semiconductors is rarely reported. Here, we develop a facile method based on self‐assembly to produce self‐supported CN aerogels, without using any cross‐linking agents. The combination of large surface area, incorporated functional groups and three‐dimensional (3D) network structure, endows the resulting freestanding aerogels with high photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution and H₂O₂ production under visible light irradiation. This work presents a simple colloid chemistry strategy to construct 3D CN aerogel networks that shows great potential for solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion by artificial photosynthesis.     

Photochemical Construction of Carbonitride Structures for Red‐Light Redox Catalysis

Metal‐free carbonitride(CN) semiconductors are appealing light‐transducers for photocatalytic redox reactions owing to the unique band gap and stability. To harness solar energy efficiently, CN catalysts that are active over a wider range of the visible spectrum are desired. Now a photochemical approach has been used to prepare a new‐type triazine‐based CN structure. The obtained CN shows extraordinary light‐harvesting characteristics, with suitable semiconductor‐redox potentials. The light absorption edge of the CN reaches up to 735 nm, which is significantly longer than that of the conventional CN semiconductor at about 460 nm. As expected, the CN can efficiently catalyze oxidation of alcohols and reduction of CO₂ with visible light, even under red‐light irradiation. The results represent an important step toward the development of red‐light‐responsive triazine‐based structures for solar applications.     

Amorphous and Crystalline 2D Polymeric Carbon Nitride Nanosheets for Photocatalytic Hydrogen/Oxygen Evolution and Hydrogen Peroxide Production

Photocatalytic reactions, including hydrogen/oxygen generation, water splitting and hydrogen peroxide production, are regarded as a renewable and promising method to harvest and use solar energy. The key to achieving this goal is to explore efficient photocatalysts with high productivity. Recently, two‐dimensional (2D) polymeric carbon nitride nanosheets were reported as efficient photocatalysts toward various products because of their outstanding properties, such as high specific surface area, more reactive sites, the quantum effect in thickness and unique electronic properties. This minireview attempts to overview recent advances in the preparation, structure and properties of crystalline and amorphous carbon nitride nanosheets, and their applications in photocatalytic hydrogen/oxygen evolution, water splitting and hydrogen peroxide production. We also thoroughly discuss the effect of defects, dopants and composites on the photocatalytic efficiency of these carbon nitride nanosheets. Finally, we outlook the ongoing opportunities and future challenges for 2D carbon nitride nanosheets in the field of photocatalysis.     

Covalent Triazine Frameworks(CTFs) for Photocatalytic Applications

Covalent triazine frameworks(CTFs) as a new type of porous organic polymers(POPs) with nitrogen-rich content, high chemical stability, visible light sensitive, metal-free and fully conjugated structure, have gained considerable attention in the last ten years owing to their great potential in extensive applications, especially for photocatalysis systems. In this review, we propose to provide current progress in the design and synthesis of CTFs, along with an emphasis on their photocatalytic applications. Firstly, a brief background including the development of photocatalytic areas is provided. Then, synthetic strategies of CTFs are described and compared. Furthermore, the evolution of CTF materials in photocatalysis fields and strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performance is presented. Finally, some perspectives and challenges on synthesizing high crystalline CTFs and designing excellent catalytic performance of CTF materials are discussed, inspiring the development of CTF materials in photocatalytic applications.     

基于Ru-bda双核钌催化剂的可见光驱动水氧化

开发高效水氧化催化剂对于太阳能分解水制氢和 CO2还原都具有重要意义. 我们之前的研究表明, 基于 Ru-bda(bda= 2,2'-联吡啶-6,6'-二羧酸) 单体的双核钌催化剂在以 (NH4)2Ce(NO3)6为氧化剂的化学法水氧化反应中表现出良好的催化性能, 比相同条件下单核钌催化剂的活性高出一个数量级. 然而, 该类双核钌催化剂的光催化水氧化性能尚未被系统研究.因此我们考察了以丙烷桥双核钌配合物为催化剂、[Ru(bpy)3]Cl2为光敏剂、Na2S2O8为电子牺牲体组成的三组分体系的光催化性能, 并和相应的单核钌催化剂进行了对比, 同时考察了溶液中乙腈的含量对单、双核钌分子催化剂光催化产氧性能和产氧机理的影响.实验结果表明, 无论是单核还是双核钌催化剂, 其催化活性与乙腈在磷酸缓冲溶液中的比例密切相关. 乙腈的含量不仅影响了水氧化的驱动力, 而且影响 O-O 的形成机理, 改变反应的动力学和反应速率. 单、双核钌催化剂的活性都随着乙腈比例的增加而增加, 然而双核钌催化剂在低乙腈含量的缓冲溶液中展现优于单核钌催化剂的光催化性能; 而在高乙腈含量的缓冲溶液中, 双核钌催化剂和单核钌催化剂的光催化性能趋于相当. 在最优化条件 (60% 乙腈) 下, 双核钌的光催化产氧 TON 值达到 638, 在 450 nm 的光量子效率达到 77%. 我们还发现, 当乙腈浓度较低时, 单核钌催化剂 Ru-bda 催化的水氧化反应为二级动力学; 当乙腈浓度较高时, 该催化剂在反应中表现为一级动力学. 从而推测 O-O 键的形成机制由双分子自由基耦合转变成单分子亲核进攻, 也解释了为什么高乙腈含量下单核和双核钌催化剂的活性差别不大. 本研究所展示的 Ru-bda 的溶剂效应可能同样适用于电化学和光电化学水氧化, 对深入理解和设计高效太阳能分解水器件具有重要意义.     

Selenide‐chitosan as High‐performance Nanophotocatalyst for Accelerated Degradation of Pollutants

Water pollution is one of the major global challenges today. Water bodies are contaminated by the heavy release of waste effluents of textile industries, which includes intensively colored dye pollutants. Herein, a ternary nanocomposite of bismuth copper selenide with small particle size and ternary metal selenide (TMS)‐chitosan microspheres (TMS‐CM) of the spherical porous surface were successfully synthesized. SEM, XRD, EDX, FTIR, and UV/Vis spectrophotometry analysis revealed the structural and morphological characteristics of the newly synthesized nanocomposites. SEM imaging showed the average diameter of TMS nanoparticle to be 33 nm. The crystal size was calculated as 6.33 nm and crystalline structure as orthorhombic using XRD findings. EDX confirmed the presence of Bi, Cu, and Se in the ternary nanocomposite. The bandgap of 1.8 eV was calculated from Tauc's plot for the TMS nanocomposite. SEM confirmed the successful synthesis of spherical TMS‐CM microspheres of porous surface morphology with an average size of 885.6 μm. The presence of chitosan microspheres in the synthesis of TMS nanocomposite was identified by FTIR spectral analysis. Furthermore, highly efficient photocatalytic degradation (up to 95.4%) of ARS was achieved within 180 min at pH 4.0 using 0.5 g of TMS‐CM in sunlight. The first‐order kinetic model fitted well to the photocatalytic decontamination of ARS using TMS‐CM with a rate constant of 6.1x10^?2 min^?1. The TMS‐CM gave attractive results and high efficiency in photocatalytic degradation of ARS dye after reusing and regeneration of up to seven successive cycles. The newly synthesized nanophotocatalyst could be efficiently used for the decontamination of dye polluted water from textile industries.     

The synthesis of highly crystalline covalent organic frameworks via the monomer crystal induction for the photocatalytic asymmetric α-alkylation of aldehydes

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are ordered porous organic frameworks, which found wide applications in gas sorption and separation, catalysis, sensoring, and many others owing to their permanent porosity and designable structural motifs. To take full advantage of the well-defined porous structure, COFs need to be synthesized with high crystallinity. However, the synthesis of COFs with high crystalline is a general challenge, which requires dedicated linker design and reaction condition optimization. To achieve this, we developed a monomer crystal-induced strategy to construct crystalline COFs. The synthesized COFs have higher crystallinity, surface area, and thermal stability than those prepared without monomer crystal induction. Furthermore, the high crystalline COFs exhibit excellent performance in the photocatalytic asymmetric alkylation of aldehydes. The monomer crystal-induced method not only represents a new route for the synthesis of crystalline COFs but also sheds light on the mechanism of the formation of COFs.     

Materials with Nanoscale Porosity: Energy and Environmental Applications

In this personal account, several key inventions on designing novel microporous and mesoporous materials, and their applications in energy and environmental research are reviewed. Although, crystalline materials with sub‐nanometer pore size regime like zeolites, AlPOs, MOFs, ZIFs etc. are known over the years, silicious and non‐silicious mesoporous materials have revolutionized the research on the materials with nanoscale porosity in last two and half decades. A wide range of inorganic, organic‐inorganic hybrid as well as purely organic mesoporous materials with either periodic or disordered mesopores are known. Apart from conventional hydrothermal syntheses involving soft templating route, hard templating, evaporation induced self‐assembly (EISA), electrochemical or solvothermal (using hydrophilic solvents) synthetic routes are often employed in designing a large spectrum of mesoporous materials. Ease of synthesis using available cheap raw chemicals and versatility in the framework compositions together with the unique surface properties like exceptionally high surface area, pore volume and tunability in pore dimensions have made these materials very exciting to a wide range of researchers working on materials chemistry. Nanoscale porosity in the semiconductor nanomaterials is highly beneficial for the photocatalytic, optoelectronic and related light‐harvesting applications. Their high chemical stability has been explored intensively in designing novel heterogeneous catalysts for the synthesis of biofuels from biomass or CO₂ fixation to reactive organic molecules for the synthesis of fine chemicals and fuels, which has a large impact on energy and environmental research for the years to come. Diversity in mesoporous frameworks and their potential applications related to light harvesting, generation of renewable energy and synthesis of value added fine chemicals and fuels through environment friendly routes are mostly focused in this review.     

Covalent Organic Frameworks for Photocatalytic Organic Transformation

Photocatalytic organic transformation is an efficient, energysaving and environmentally friendly strategy for organic synthesis. The key to developing a green and economical route for photocatalytic organic synthesis lies in the construction of optimal photocatalysts. Covalent organic frameworks(COFs), a kind of porous crystalline materials with characteristics of high surface area, excellent porosity, and superior thermo-chemical stability, have driven people to explore their potential as photocatalysts in photocatalytic organic transformations by virtue of their structural versatility and designability. Furthermore, the insolubility of COFs makes it possible to recycle the catalysts by simple technical means. In recent years, researchers have made great efforts to develop both the design strategies of COFs as heterogeneous photocatalysts and the reaction types of photocatalytic organic transformations. In this review, we focus on the design of COF-based photocatalytic materials and analyze the influence factors of photocatalytic performance. Moreover, we summarize the application of COFbased photocatalysts in photocatalytic organic conversion. Finally, the perspectives on new opportunities and challenges in the field are discussed.     

Modulating Benzothiadiazole‐Based Covalent Organic Frameworks via Halogenation for Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Two‐dimensional covalent organic frameworks (2D COFs), an emerging class of crystalline porous polymers, have been recognized as a new platform for efficient solar‐to‐hydrogen energy conversion owing to their pre‐designable structures and tailor‐made functions. Herein, we demonstrate that slight modulation of the chemical structure of a typical photoactive 2D COF (Py‐HTP‐BT‐COF) via chlorination (Py‐ClTP‐BT‐COF) and fluorination (Py‐FTP‐BT‐COF) can lead to dramatically enhanced photocatalytic H₂ evolution rates (HER=177.50 μmol h^?1 with a high apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 8.45 % for Py‐ClTP‐BT‐COF). Halogen modulation at the photoactive benzothiadiazole moiety can efficiently suppress charge recombination and significantly reduce the energy barrier associated with the formation of H intermediate species (H*) on polymer surface. Our findings provide new prospects toward design and synthesis of highly active organic photocatalysts toward solar‐to‐chemical energy conversion.     

前驱体改性法制备薄层多孔富氨基的石墨相氮化碳用于光催化降解RhB和光催化制氢

半导体光催化是一种利用半导体将太阳能转换为高能化学能的绿色技术,在可再生清洁能源生产和污染物修复领域有着巨大的应用前景.石墨相氮化碳(g-C3N4)作为一种环境友好的非金属半导体,因其制备工艺简单、来源丰富、热稳定性和化学稳定性好、可见光吸收范围及特殊的电子性能而受到广泛关注.但一般常用氮源前驱体如二氰二胺、三聚氰胺等...