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Harnessing Janus structures: Enhanced internal electric fields in C3N5 for improved H2 photocatalysis
Citation
Yuan, J., Li, S., Dang, Z., Liu, S., Yang, F., Wang, D., Tao, H., Gao, S., & Ang, E. H. (2025). Harnessing Janus structures: Enhanced internal electric fields in C3N5 for improved H2 photocatalysis. Materials Horizons, 12, 1346-1354. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4mh01316f
Author
Yuan, Jianwei
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Li, Su
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Dang, Zhaofei
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Liu, Sixia
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Yang, Fu
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Wang, Dongguang
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Tao, Hengcong
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Gao, Shuying
•
Abstract
Homojunction engineering holds promise for creating high-performance photocatalysts, yet significant challenges persist in establishing and modulating an effective junction interface. To tackle this, we designed and constructed a novel Janus homojunction photocatalyst by integrating two different forms of triazole-based carbon nitride (C3N5). In this design, super-sized, ultrathin nanosheets of carbon-rich C3N5 grow epitaxially on a nitrogen-rich honeycomb network of C3N5, creating a tightly bound and extensive interfacial contact area. This arrangement enhances the built-in internal electric field (IEF) between the two forms of C3N5, facilitating faster directional transfer of photogenerated electrons and improved visible-light harvesting. Consequently, Janus-C3N5 achieves a remarkable H2 evolution rate of 1712.4 μmol h−1 g−1 under simulated sunlight, which is approximately 5.58 times higher than that of bulk C3N5 (306.8 μmol h−1 g−1) and 14.1 times higher than another form of bulk C3N5 (121.2 μmol h−1 g−1). This work offers a new approach to design efficient homojunction-based photocatalysts.
Date Issued
2025
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Journal
Materials Horizons
Project
RG 10/22
RI 3/23 EAH
Grant ID
22208033
2240080438
22KJB530005
CJ20230039
YN21044
Funding Agency
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions of China
Changzhou Science and Technology Project
Changzhou Institute of Technology Start-up Capital
Ministry of Education, Singapore
National Institute of Education, Singapore