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BIT’s Team publishes a review article on the carbon nitrolic semiconductor photocatalytic synthetic energy products
Time: 2022-09-30
News Source: School of Life Science
Editor: Xiao Wen
Recently, the Green Biological Manufacturing Team of the School of Life Science, BIT, has published a review article on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photochemical materials. The relevant results were published in the top journal Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (influencing factor 9.965) under the title “Design and Application of g-C3N4-based Materials for Fuels Photosynthesis from CO2or H2O Based on Reaction Pathway Insights”. He Bin, a doctoral student of the class 2019, School of Life Science, BIT, is the first author. The corresponding author is Professor Sun Jian.
With the intensification of industrialization and the continuous growth of population, energy crisis and environmental pollution have become global issues. Exploration regarding the production of cleaning and renewable energy and CO2high-value utilization is of great significance for alleviating energy crisis, improving environmental conditions, and promoting carbon neutrality. Inspired by photosynthesis, under the driving force of solar energy and the effect of semiconductor catalysts, CO2reduction reaction (CRR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) have gradually become a strategy with great potential. How to reasonably design efficient semiconductor photocatalysts has become a research hotspot in related fields (Figure 1)
Figure 1. Research hotspot diagram-based Web of Science and VOS Viewer
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), as a type of metal-free organic semiconductor photocatalysts with visible light response, is known as the "Holy Grail” photocatalyst, showing unique advantages in the above process (such as green, economy, and diverse products.) However, due to the influence of the band structure and interface characteristics, the g-C3N4catalytic efficiency is difficult to meet the practical needs effectively. In response to the problem of low visible light utilization rate and severe load composite of g-C3N4, the research group conducted a relatively systematic modification research in the early stage, and developed strategies including bio-based carbon modification (Appl. Surf. SCI., 2020, 527, 146737; Green Energy Environ., 2020, 823-845), alkaline-metal homojunction structure (Appl. Surf. Sci., 575, 151695), polymeric ionic liquid nano-core-shell material composition (Chem. English, 2022, 135625) from the perspective of chemical modification, heterogeneous knot enhancement, and electronic regulation, which have better improved the visible optical degradation pollutant of g-C3N4and the performance of hydrogen dissolving hydrogen. In the review, the author tried to decompose the HER and CRR catalytic reactions into 5 main steps (Figure 2): ① photon absorption and load generation, ② load separation and migration, ③ adsorption and activation of reactors, the adsorption and activation of the reactor, and activation, and activation, and activation, and activation of reactors, and activation of reactors, and activation, activation, and activation, ④ The interface oxidation and reduction reaction and the description of the product; of which, ① ~ ③ is the main decisive speed step. Among them, photon absorption determines the utilization rate of sunlight as the first step. The author pointed out that the surface light -sensitivity and the resonance effect (SPR) can effectively expand the scope of the spectral absorption, increase the capture ability of visible light, and then generate more electronic cave pairs. At the same time, the author elaborates the design principles and application conditions of these two strategies by analyzing the mechanism of light -sensitivity and SPR effects. In response to the serious problems of loading (step ②), the author sets out from the problem (band, conductivity, etc.) from the problem, and summarizes the main solution strategies, such as heterogeneous construction, element doping and improving crystallization. Furthermore, the mechanism, advantages and disadvantages, and construction strategies of heterogeneous knots, mixing elements and crystalline improvement are discussed in detail. In response to the activation and adsorption of the reactor (step ③), the author pointed out that it can increase the adsorption activation of the reactor through interface decoration and porous material composite, inhibit the occurrence of side effects, thereby improving the efficiency of catalytic reactions.
Figure 2. CRR and HER's reaction process and enhanced means
Finally, for the design high-efficiency photocatalyst for CO2conversion and hydrogen energy preparation, the author believes that the design of photocatalyst should not only focus on the structure and performance of its material, but also need pay more attention to the characteristics and difficulties of the reaction system. Therefore, combined with advanced characterization methods, the in-depth understanding of the reaction mechanism of CRR and HER as well as the transmission path of the photocopy of the optical carrier and the interface behavior of the reactant, etc. will be of great significance for the design of the photocatalyst. The development of multiple coupling strategies (light-heat, light-electricity, light-enzyme, etc.) can gather multiple advantages to achieve a significant improvement in the CRR and HER process response rate. The development of this work aims to provide reference for designing high -efficiency photocatalytic materials and optical materials.
Article details: Bin He, Yuandong Cui, Yu Lei, Wenjin Li, Jian Sun, Design and Application of g-C3N4-based Materials for Fuels Photosynthesis from CO2or H2O Based on Reaction Pathway Insights. DOI:10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.114.
Article link:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2022.09.114.
Attached team introduction:
The green biological manufacturing team focuses on the national "double carbon" and sustainable development strategic needs, and pays attention to the cross -integration of multiple disciplines such as chemistry, biology, chemicals, and materials. Researches concerning functionalized ionic liquids basics and applications have been conducted, with directions including the design of functionalized ionic liquids and micro-environmental effects, bio-based chemicals, materials synthesis, optical, electric, heat, biological coupling, as well as the construction of bionic functional devices. Currently, there are three teachers in the team. The person in charge is Professor Sun Jian, a young scholar of BIT, deputy director of the technical committee of the Chinese Crystag Industry Association, a member of the ionic liquid special committee of the Chinese Chemical Society, and a pharmaceutical biofilm technology of the China Film Industry Association Member of the committee, editorial committee member of Green Energy Resource, Energy Environment. Mater., Chinese J. Chem. Eng., Green Chem. Eng. Associate Professor Yan Jipeng, a team member, has been engaged in high -efficiency green transformation of biomass, the development and utilization of biomedical materials and chemicals for a long time. Associate Professor Zhao Weidong, has been engaged in the research of new bio-sensors, developed a variety of new SERS substrates, and realized the large-scale and patterned preparation of SERS substrates.