Issue 9, 2024

Small variation induces a big difference: the effect of polymerization kinetics of graphitic carbon nitride on its photocatalytic activity

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has emerged as a promising visible-light-responsive photocatalyst, and its activity is highly sensitive to synthesis conditions. In this work, we attempt to correlate the photocatalytic activity of g-CN with its production yield, which is kinetically determined by the specific condensation process. Bulk g-CN samples were synthesized by the conventional condensation procedure, but in static air and flowing air, respectively. The one synthesized in static air showed a lower production yield with an increased specific surface area and preferential surface chemical states, corresponding to a significantly improved activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution (PHE) and dye degradation. We further synthesized a series of g-CN samples by merely changing the synthetic atmosphere, the ramping rate, and the loading amount of the precursor, and the difference in their PHE performance was found to be as high as 7.05 times. The notable changes in their production yields as well as the photocatalytic activities have been discussed from the point of view of polymerization reaction kinetics, and the self-generated NH3 atmosphere plays a crucial role.

Graphical abstract: Small variation induces a big difference: the effect of polymerization kinetics of graphitic carbon nitride on its photocatalytic activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Jan 2024
Accepted
25 Jan 2024
First published
27 Jan 2024

Dalton Trans., 2024,53, 4010-4019

Small variation induces a big difference: the effect of polymerization kinetics of graphitic carbon nitride on its photocatalytic activity

T. Li, B. Lai, J. Liu, S. Yuan, N. Liu, X. Zhao, X. Luo, D. Yu and Y. Zhao, Dalton Trans., 2024, 53, 4010 DOI: 10.1039/D4DT00042K

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