Toward Efficient Preconcentrating Photocatalysis: 3D g-C₃N₄ Monolith with Isotype Heterojunctions Assembled from Hybrid 1D and 2D Nanoblocks

Abstract

The macroscopic integration of the microscopic catalyst is one of the most promising strategies for photocatalytic technology in facing practical applications. However, in addition to the unsatisfactory photoactivated exciton separation, a new problem restricting the catalytic efficiency is the unmatched kinetics between the reactant diffusion and the photochemical reaction. Here, we report an isotype heterojunctional three-dimensional g-C₃N₄ monolith which is assembled from the hybrid building blocks of the nanowires and nanosheets. Benefiting from its hierarchically porous network and abundant heterojunctions, this catalytic system exhibits inherently promoted efficiency in light absorption and exciton separation, thus leading to a desirably improved photocatalytic performance. Furthermore, thanks to the structural and functional advantages of the constructed g-C₃N₄ monolith, a novel strategy of preconcentrating photocatalysis featuring the successive filtration, adsorption, and photocatalysis has been further developed, which could technically coordinate the kinetic differences and result in over-ten-time enhancement on the efficiency compared with the traditional photocatalytic system. Beyond providing new insights into the structural design and innovative application of the monolithic photocatalyst, this work may further open up novel technological revolutions in sewage treatment, air purification, microbial control, etc.