Unraveling fundamental active units in carbon nitride for photocatalytic oxidation reactions

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20521-5
• Publication Date: 2021-01-12T18:36:08Z
• Authors: Chaofeng Huang; Yaping Wen; Jin Ma; Dandan Dong; Yanfei Shen; Songqin Liu; Haibo Ma; Yuanjian Zhang
• Keywords: Carbon nitride; Graphitic carbon nitride; Carbon fibers

Covalently bonded carbon nitride (CN) has stimulated extensive attention as a metal-free semiconductor. However, because of the complexity polymeric structures, acquisition critical roles each molecular constituent in CN for photocatalysis remains elusive. Herein, we clarify fundamental active units by synthesizing with more detailed structures. Enabled microwave synthesis, as-prepared consists distinguishable melem (M1) and its incomplete condensed form (M2). We disclose rather than traditional opinion being involved whole photocatalytic processes, M1 M2 make primary contributions light absorption charge separation, respectively. Meanwhile, oxygen molecules are unusually observed to be activated participating photoexcited processes via electronic coupling mainly M2. As result, such higher activity, which was up 8 times that bulk oxidation tetracycline water.