Catalysis

Biology

Materials science

Biochemistry

Immunology

Monoclonal antibody

Graphitic carbon nitride

Heterojunction

Chemistry

Isotype

Photocatalysis

Antibody

Optoelectronics

Applied Surface Science

Rationally designing heterostructure is a promising way to promote the charge carrier separation of intrinsic photocatalysts, thus contributes the improvement of solar to chemical energy conversion. Herein, a novel isotype heterojunction consisted of MCN and UCN, respectively derived from hydrothermally-treated melamine and urea, was synthesized. Owing to the well compatibility and matched band structure, an S-scheme charge transfer mechanism is confirmed for working on MCN/UCN isotype heterojunction, thus endowing strong redox ability, efficient charge carrier separation efficiency and prolonged lifetime. As a result, MCN/UCN exhibits improved photocatalytic water splitting activity under visible light irradiation, which displays approximately 5.5 and 1.8-fold enhancement as compared to the pure MCN and UCN, respectively. The rationally synthesized S-scheme isotype heterojunction will pave the way for developing highly efficient g-C3N4-based photocatalysts.

Novel g-C3N4/g-C3N4 S-scheme isotype heterojunction for improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation