Carbon-Based Nanomaterials via Heterojunction Serving as Photocatalyst

Abstract

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water splitting is of auspicious possibility to resolve the energy shortage and environmental anxieties. In the past decade, the combination of different carbon-based allotropes with semiconductors of different structure and unique properties to construct heterojunction, which can improve the charge separation, light absorption, and steadiness, offer a promising way to achieve efficient photocatalyst. This review aims to provide an overview of the development for the carbon nanomaterials (CNMs)-based photocatalysts used for hydrogen production from water splitting and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in waste water. The recent progress of CNMs-based heterojunction, including various composite with graphene, fullerene, carbon quantum dots (CQDs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were highlighted. Furthermore, a typical model of CNMs-based Z-scheme heterojunction was also addressed. Finally, a promising perspective on the future development of CNMs-based photocatalysts have been discussed.

Hydrothermally activated TiO2 nanoparticles with a C-dot/g-C3N4 heterostructure for photocatalytic enhancement

“…Besides, hydrothermal treatment has been proved beneficial for generating superhydrophilic surfaces to the hybrids that could enhance the photodegradation rate of RhB and MB by effective absorption of dye on the surface of photocatalysts. 1 According to the previous studies, 9,36 the photodegradation of RhB can be divided into two types: (h + )/•OH induced formation of stepwise N-deethylated intermediates. 37 Therefore, it can be deduced that •O 2and h + are responsible for the degradation of RhB or MB.…”

Recent advances on Bi2WO6-based photocatalysts for environmental and energy applications

“…As a kind of cost-effective cocatalyst, carbon materials with conjugated π structure have high electrical conductivity and special electronic properties, which can be used as excellent electron acceptor and donor to reduce the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, significantly improving the photocatalytic performance of semiconductors [161][162][163][164][165]. At present, many carbon materials have been applied for photocatalysis, including amorphous carbon, graphene, fullerene, conducting polymers, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and so on [166][167][168]. Among them, g-C3N4 as a semiconductor material is discussed in the following section.…”

Catalytic conversion of CO2 to chemicals and fuels: the collective thermocatalytic/photocatalytic/electrocatalytic approach with graphitic carbon nitride

“…The basic phenomenon of CO 2 photo-reduction, especially with respect to heterogeneous catalysis, have already been addressed through several critical, tutorial, perspective, and edge articles by eminent researchers across the globe. [159][160][161][162][163][164][165] Most importantly, CO 2 photoreduction over g-C 3 N 4 has also been reviewed recently. [153][154][155][156][157][158][159][160][161][162][163][164][165] Still, various aspects of this material and its further manipulation for CO 2 photoreduction catalytic efficiency improvement remain uncovered.…”