Issue 19, 2017

Directional electron delivery via a vertical channel between g-C3N4 layers promotes photocatalytic efficiency

Abstract

Suffering from inefficient charge separation and random charge transfer between its planes, the photocatalytic efficiency of g-C3N4 is still unsatisfactory. Herein, this challenging issue is tackled via intercalating alkalis into the interlayer space in g-C3N4 to create a vertical channel between the layers for directional electron delivery, which is a novel strategy to effectively quench charge recombination and promote electron transfer. Using a close combination of theoretical and experimental methods, the alkalis intercalated in g-C3N4 have been designed and fabricated. The alkali species could suppress random charge transfer between the planes of g-C3N4 and enable the electrons to directionally migrate between adjacent layers in a one-way transmission manner. In an unprecedented result, the photocatalytic efficiency of g-C3N4 is significantly improved by 115.0% via alkali intercalation and it is also stable for recycled usage. This work could provide a feasible protocol for the modification of a wide range of 2D materials, and shed new light on the understanding of photocatalytic mechanisms.

Graphical abstract: Directional electron delivery via a vertical channel between g-C3N4 layers promotes photocatalytic efficiency

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
11 Mar 2017
Accepted
17 Apr 2017
First published
17 Apr 2017

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 9358-9364

Directional electron delivery via a vertical channel between g-C3N4 layers promotes photocatalytic efficiency

J. Li, W. Cui, Y. Sun, Y. Chu, W. Cen and F. Dong, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 9358 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA02183F

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