Graphitic carbon nitride nano-emitters on silicon: a photoelectrochemical heterojunction composed of earth-abundant materials for enhanced evolution of hydrogen

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride is a promising heterogeneous catalyst for light-induced generation of hydrogen. Here, we report the successful formation of nano-scaled carbon nitride structures on silicon, mitigating the known limitations of charge transport within bulky C–N networks. An efficient photoelectrochemical heterojunction is thereby realized, developed from earth-abundant materials only.