Ultrathin Carbon Nitride with Atomic-Level Intraplane Implantation of Graphited Carbon Ring Domain for Superior Photocatalytic Activity in the Visible/Near-Infrared Region

Abstract

Efficient photocarrier transfer and sufficient light absorption play a crucial role in improving photocatalytic H2 evolution activity. Hence, we report a conceptual design of an ultrathin carbon nitride intraplane implanted with graphited carbon ring domain (CN-GP) via thermal polymerization of polyvinyl butyral and melamine membrane, displaying obvious disparities in the decoration type compared with the adsorption of graphene on the bulk g-C3N4 surface. This unique intraplane heterostructural CN-GP can greatly sheathe the visible/near-infrared light range, expedite electron–hole pair separation, and weaken the barrier of the photocarrier transfer through their suitable energy band structures and in-built electric felds. Consequently, the CN-GP displayed remarkable photocatalytic activity under visible/near-infrared illumination by acquiring a H2 production rate of 11.33 mmol g–1 h–1 and even showed near-infrared-driven photocatalytic activity. This work presents an effective method for the rational fabrication of g-C3N4-based materials for broad-spectrum-driven photocatalysis.