Carbon Nitride Materials for Water Splitting Photoelectrochemical Cells

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride materials (CNs) have emerged as suitable photo- and heterogeneous- catalysts for various reactions thanks to their tunable band gap, suitable energy-band position, high stability under harsh chemical conditions, and low cost. However, the utilization of CN in photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photoelectronic devices is still at an early stage owing to the difficulties in depositing high-quality and homogenous CN layer on substrates, its wide band gap, poor charge-separation efficiency and low electronic conductivity. In this minireview, we discuss the synthetic pathways for the preparation of various structures of CN on substrates, and their underlying photophysical properties and current photoelectrochemical performance. The main challenges for CN incorporation into PEC cell are described, together with possible routes to overcome the standing limitations toward the integration of CN materials in PEC and other photoelectronic devices.

Nanostructured Carbon Nitrides for CO2 Capture and Conversion

“…Ribbon‐like g‐C 3 N 4 nanostructure has been prepared from DCDA precursor and NaCl crystals as the structure directing templates . Shalom and co‐workers demonstrated several approaches including vapor transport, thermal vapor condensation, solvothermal, freeze‐drying, powder and vapor deposition, doctor‐blading, and hybridization for the synthesis of 3D hierarchical g‐C 3 N 4 nanoporous spheres and nanostructured CN films on different electrodes through supramolecular assemblies of CN precursors …”

Constructing Conductive Interfaces between Nickel Oxide Nanocrystals and Polymer Carbon Nitride for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Reaction

“…As a famous semiconductive polymer, polymer carbon nitride (generally known as g‐C 3 N 4 ) attracts extensive attention for its intriguing properties such as environmental‐friendly, low‐cost, elements earth‐abundant, and facile synthesis . Because of the chemical and mechanical stability as well as strong tolerance to acid and alkaline environments, carbon nitride materials (CN) are recently used as substrates for dispersing high conductive metal nanoparticles (e. g. Pd, Pt, and Cu) and graphene to reduce the particles aggregation during catalysis .…”

Delocalization of π‐Electron in Graphitic Carbon Nitride to Promote its Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution

“…In order to cope with the increasingly serious energy crisis, semiconductor photocatalysis has been considered as a prospective technique in response to the photocatalytic water splitting, carbon dioxide reduction, air pollutant removal, degradation of organic compounds and bacteria disinfection . To date, graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C 3 N 4 ), as a promising photocatalyst, has drawn considerable attention in these applications due to its appropriate band gap (2.7 eV), favorable chemical stability, zero toxicity and low cost.…”