Synthesis methods of graphitic carbon nitride: a superior photocatalyst

TL;DR

This paper reviews synthesis methods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), highlighting the advantages of physical synthesis over chemical methods, and proposes an optimal approach for producing superior photocatalytic materials for renewable energy applications.

Contribution

It compares physical and chemical synthesis methods of g-C3N4 and proposes a superior synthesis approach based on observed structural and photocatalytic properties.

Findings

Physically synthesized g-C3N4 shows better structural properties.

Physically synthesized g-C3N4 exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity.

Proposed synthesis method yields higher quality g-C3N4.

Abstract

In recent years, conjugated polymers such as graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) attracts major attention to the researchers for the harnessing of renewable energy and environmental remediation through photocatalytic water splitting. Its moderate electronic band gap structure helps to absorb large spectrum of abundant solar radiation for the generation of hydrogen, a high density chemical energy source, by water splitting method. Its outstanding physicochemical stability makes it a reliable energy conversion material. Another key attribute to the researchers is the simple way of synthesizing pristine g-C3N4 and its nanocomposite structures modified with metallic and non-metallic materials. g-C3N4 can be synthesized in both chemical and physical process. In this work, the superiority in structural, optical and photocatalytic property observed in physically developed g-C3N4 over chemically synthesized g-C3N4 has been discussed and based on such studies, a suitable synthesis method has been proposed.