Photocatalytic overall water splitting by graphitic carbon nitride

Photocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) without using any sacrificial reagent to realize H-2 and O-2 production in the stoichiometric ratio of 2:1 is viewed as the holy grail in the field of solar fuel production. Developing stable, low cost, and nontoxic photocatalysts that have satisfactory solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency is of significance but challenging for realizing the large-scale use of this sustainable technology. Among various photocatalysts, graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has shown great potential as an ideal candidate to fulfill the breakthrough in this dynamic research field due to its attractive physicochemical properties. Herein, for the first time, the state-of-the-art research progress of GCN for photocatalytic OWS is reviewed. We first summarize the basic principle of photocatalytic OWS along with the advantages/challenges of GCN introduced. The strategies that have been used to modulate the OWS activity of GCN are then reviewed, including cocatalyst investigation, morphology modulation, atomic structure modification, crystallinity engineering, and heterostructure construction. Toward the end of the review, the concluding remarks and perspectives for the future development are presented, with our expectation to provide some new ideas for the design of advanced OWS photocatalysts.

Automated summary

Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has shown great potential as a photocatalyst for overall water splitting, with breakthrough progress being made in this dynamic research field. Modulating the activity of GCN can lead to more efficient photocatalytic water splitting, offering new ideas and methods for the design of advanced photocatalysts in the future.