Template-Free Synthesis of Hollow G-C3N4 Polymer with Vesicle Structure for Enhanced Photocatalytic Water Splitting

As always, layered graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) polymer demonstrated importance in the field of artificial photocatalysis. Many modified works have been operated on defected g-C3N4 to improve its limited photo catalytic performance. Two-dimensional g-C3N4 exploitation is attractive for researchers because it provides distinct photoelectric effect and large surface area. However, a great deal of studies focus on nanosheet-like g-C3N4 based on its stratified structure and mountains of discussion about it have been made. Other two-dimensional morphologies still lack research. Herein, a novel two-dimensional g-C3N4 nanoplate with a hollow vesicle structure was constructed through traditional solid-phase synthesis. The prepared process is simple and complete in one step without any guiding agent. Cyanuric chloride was chosen as precursor and coacted with elemental sulfur which was used here to fix cyanuric chloride and modify the texture of the resulting sample. Compared with the traditional g-C3N4, the surface area of the new sample is greatly enhanced, and the activity of photocatalytic water splitting into H-2 is improved as well.