Journal Article

PUBDB-2025-02629

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Layer Width Engineering in Carbon Nitride for Enhanced Exciton Dissociation and Solar Fuel Generation

Roy, R. S.Extern* ; Sil, S. ; Mishra, S. ; Banoo, M. ; Swarnkar, A. ; Kommula, B. ; De, A. K. ; Gautam, U. (Corresponding author)Extern*

2025
ACS Publications Washington, DC

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1021/acsmaterialslett.5c00178

Abstract: Photocatalytic H2 and H2O2 production using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) offers promising renewable energy prospects but suffers from rapid exciton recombination, which can be mitigated by K+-insertion-driven enhanced interlayer electron–hole separation. However, limited K+ insertion remains a bottleneck due to inadequate ion-insertion channels. Herein, we present an engineered g-C3N4 with expanded layer widths for facile ion diffusion, increasing K+ insertion by >250%. This leads to significant layer contraction post K+ insertion (∼3%, 1.5 times larger than before) due to stronger electrostatic attraction, resulting in weaker exciton binding energy (91 meV, ∼57% diminished), near-complete suppression of photoluminescence, and doubling of excited-state electron lifetime as revealed by femtosecond decay kinetics. These improvements led to ∼25 and ∼140 times increments over bare g-C3N4 in H2 and H2O2 production rates, respectively, under visible light. Considering the earth-abundant constituents of g-C3N4, our work establishes a novel design strategy for a highly active, sustainable photocatalyst.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. FS DOOR-User (FS DOOR-User)

Research Program(s):

1. 6G3 - PETRA III (DESY) (POF4-6G3) (POF4-6G3)
2. INDIA-DESY - INDIA-DESY Collaboration (2020_Join2-INDIA-DESY) (2020_Join2-INDIA-DESY)
3. FS-Proposal: I-20220874 (I-20220874) (I-20220874)

Experiment(s):

1. PETRA Beamline P65 (PETRA III)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Engineering, Computing and Technology ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 10 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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