Issue 36, 2016

A post-grafting strategy to modify g-C3N4 with aromatic heterocycles for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract

A novel and facile post-grafting strategy, instead of conventional copolymerization, via a Schiff base chemical reaction between aldehyde and –NH2 groups has been developed to construct aromatic heterocycle-grafted graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts for the first time. The high-resolution N 1s XPS spectrum and the CO2 TPD analysis confirmed the successful introduction of heterocycles and the reduced structural defects (unreacted –NH2 groups during the copolymerization modification of g-C3N4). The post-grafting of aromatic rings into the g-C3N4 network did not disrupt the original framework of g-C3N4, but effectively expanded its π-delocalized system, enlarged its surface area and promoted the separation and transfer of photo-excited charge carriers. As a result, the obtained copolymer composites exhibit significantly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution over pristine g-C3N4. This strategy is general and can be used to graft large numbers of aromatic rings of different molecular structures onto g-C3N4.

Graphical abstract: A post-grafting strategy to modify g-C3N4 with aromatic heterocycles for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 May 2016
Accepted
08 Aug 2016
First published
08 Aug 2016

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016,4, 13814-13821

Author version available

A post-grafting strategy to modify g-C3N4 with aromatic heterocycles for enhanced photocatalytic activity

J. Tian, L. Zhang, X. Fan, Y. Zhou, M. Wang, R. Cheng, M. Li, X. Kan, X. Jin, Z. Liu, Y. Gao and J. Shi, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2016, 4, 13814 DOI: 10.1039/C6TA04297J

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