Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Poly(triazine imide)

Poly(triazine imide) was synthesized with incorporation of Li+ and Cl- ions (PTI/Li+Cl-) to form a carbon nitride derivative. The synthesis of this material by the temperature-induced condensation of dicyandiamide was examined both in a eutectic mixture of LiCl-KCl and without KCl. On the basis of X-ray diffraction measurements of the synthesized materials, we suggest that a stoichiometric amount of LiCl is necessary to obtain the PTI/Li+Cl- phase without requiring the presence of KCl at 873 K. PTI/Li+Cl- with modification by either Pt or CoOx as cocatalyst photocatalytically produced H-2 or O-2, respectively, from water. The production of H-2 or O-2 from water indicates that the valence and conduction bands of PTI/Li+Cl- were properly located to achieve overall water splitting. The treatment of PTI/Li+Cl- with [Pt(NH3)(4)](2+) cations enabled the deposition of Pt through ion exchange, demonstrating photocatalytic activity for H-2 evolution, while treatment with [PtCl6](2-) anions resulted in no Pt deposition. This was most likely because of the preferential exchange between Li+ ions and [Pt(NH3)(4)](2+) cations.