n/n junctioned g-C3N4 for enhanced photocatalytic H2 generation

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has been deemed as a promising metal-free catalyst for solar energy utilization toward water splitting. In the present work, homogeneous n/n junctioned g-C₃N₄/g-C₃N₄ is prepared by in situ annealing of two different precursors and its photocatalytic activity is studied for hydrogen generation. It exhibits a superior photocatalytic performance over its individual pure g-C₃N₄ moieties. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is explained by the synergistic effects between the two g-C₃N₄ in the homogeneous nanostructures, where a better charge separation is achieved in the homogeneous g-C₃N₄/g-C₃N₄ with many n/n junctions. Previously, synergistic effects were reported in the heterostructures of different materials or different phases. This study thus broadens the meaning of synergistic effects and demonstrates that synergistic effects can be obtained using the same materials of the same phase but made by different methods. Therefore, this finding is of general interest to the materials, chemistry, and renewable energy communities and will trigger a wide attention in the related research fields.