Gold/monolayer graphitic carbon nitride plasmonic photocatalyst for ultrafast electron transfer in solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion

All-Solid-State Z-Scheme CsPbBr3/Au/g-C3N4 Heterojunctions for Enhanced Photocatalytic C-H Oxidation

Z-scheme heterojunctions have emerged as a novel type of environmental and energy photocatalysts owing to their unique charge separation and transfer pathways as well as robust redox capabilities. Herein, this paper reports a straightforward technique for fabricating an anisotropic all-solid-state Z-scheme CsPbBr3/Au/g-C3N4 heterojunction, wherein CsPbBr3, g-C3N4, and the electron-transfer system (Au) are spatially immobilized. This three-component system presented high photocatalytic activity for the oxidation of C-H bonds to carboxylic acids, ketones, and alcohols, respectively. Notably, metallic Au species, functioning as solid-state electron mediators, can significantly accelerate the transfer rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes between the photocatalysts. As verified by trapping experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance, the results indicate that h+ and ·O2- serve as the primary active species in this process. This study provides novel perspectives on the development of high-performance perovskite-based Z-scheme heterojunctions in the field of organic synthesis.

Hybrid Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Generation and Carbon Dioxide Reduction

The successful development of artificial photosynthesis requires finding new materials able to efficiently harvest sunlight and catalyze hydrogen generation and carbon dioxide reduction reactions. Plasmonic nanoparticles are promising candidates for these tasks, due to their ability to confine solar energy into molecular regions. Here, we review recent developments in hybrid plasmonic photocatalysis, including the combination of plasmonic nanomaterials with catalytic metals, semiconductors, perovskites, 2D materials, metal-organic frameworks, and electrochemical cells. We perform a quantitative comparison of the demonstrated activity and selectivity of these materials for solar fuel generation in the liquid phase. In this way, we critically assess the state-of-the-art of hybrid plasmonic photocatalysts for solar fuel production, allowing its benchmarking against other existing heterogeneous catalysts. Our analysis allows the identification of the best performing plasmonic systems, useful to design a new generation of plasmonic catalysts.

Enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over a heterojunction composed of silver cyanamide and graphitic carbon nitride

A semiconductor heterojunction composed of silver cyanamide (Ag₂NCN) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution under simulated sunlight irradiation.

A green and facile method to prepare graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets with outstanding photocatalytic H2O2 production ability via NaClO hydrothermal treatment

Transportation and transformation of photogenerated carriers during the photocatalytic process of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) are restricted by the low surface area and insufficient charge separation efficiency.