Simple method for preparing of sulfur–doped graphitic carbon nitride with superior activity in CO ₂ photoreduction

Abstract

Abstract S‐doped porous carbon nitride was obtained by a simple method using melamine and sulfuric acid. The synthesized material exhibits high BET specific surface area (75 m 2 /g) compared to non‐doped C 3 N 4 (25 m 2 /g). According to X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy sulfur atoms substitute nitrogen forming C−S bonds in the structure of carbon nitride. Incorporation of sulfur into C 3 N 4 results in a significant increase of the light absorbance intensity especially in the UV region compared to undoped sample. Synthesized S‐doped carbon nitride was found to be p‐type semiconductor with high catalytic activity towards photoreduction of carbon dioxide with water vapour. Doping C 3 N 4 with sulfur increases the catalytic activity in this reaction almost tenfold.