Sulfur-doped g-C3N4/g-C3N4 isotype step-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic H2 evolution

The rational fabrication of an efficient heterojunction is critical to the enhancement of photocatalytic hydrogen (H-2) evolution performance. Herein, a new-fashioned graphitic-carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based isotype step-scheme (S-scheme) heterojunction composed of sulfur-doped and sulfur-free active sites is developed by liquid sulfur-mediation of exfoliated g-C3N4. Particularly, the liquid sulfur not only contributes to the full contact between sulfur species and exfoliated g-C3N4, but also creates sulfur-doping and abundant pores, since self-gas foaming effect of sulfur vapor. Moreover, the S-doped and S-free active sites located in the structural unit of C3N4 jointly construct a typical sulfur-doped g-C3N4/g-C3N4 isotype step-scheme heterojunction, which endows highly efficient photocatalytic reaction process. Therefore, the optimal sample possesses remarkable photocatalytic H-2 evolution activity (5548.1 mu mol g(-1) h(-1)) and robust durability. Most importantly, the investigation will open up a new path for the exploration of other carbon-based isotype S-scheme heterojunctions. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The editorial office of Journal of Materials Science & Technology.

Automated summary

This study successfully develops a new heterojunction structure composed of sulfur-doped and sulfur-free active sites, which demonstrates high efficiency and durability in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The research contributes to the exploration of other carbon-based isotype S-scheme heterojunctions.