Graphitic carbon nitride heterojunction photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production is considered as an ideal approach to solve global energy crisis and environmental pollution. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has received extensive consideration due to its facile synthesis, stable physicochemical properties, and easy functionalization. However, the pristine g-C3N4 usually shows unsatisfactory photocatalytic activity due to the limited separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. Generally, introducing semiconductors or co-catalysts to construct geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts is recognized as an effective method to solve this bottleneck. In this review, the advantages and characteristics of various types of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction are analyzed. Subsequently, the recent progress of highly efficient geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts in the field of photocatalytic water splitting is emphatically introduced. Finally, a vision of future perspectives and challenges of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts in hydrogen production are presented. Predictably, this timely review will provide valuable reference for the design of efficient heterojunctions towards photocatalytic water splitting and other photoredox reactions. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.

Automated summary

This review discusses the advantages and characteristics of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts and their recent progress in photocatalytic water splitting. It also outlines the future prospects and challenges of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts in hydrogen production.