Enhanced Piezocatalytic Performance through Self-Assembly Synthesis of Carbon-Rich Graphitic Carbon Nitride

Piezocatalysis is an emerging catalytic method that efficiently harnesses mechanical energy from the environment and converts it into electrical energy to drive chemical reactions. Graphitic carbon nitride (CN), as a nonmetallic piezocatalyst, offers significant cost advantages and environmental friendliness. However, enhancing the catalytic efficiency of pristine CN is hindered by its weak adsorption ability and piezoelectric response. To overcome these challenges, this study introduces dicarboxylic acid as a precursor for CN synthesis, resulting in carbon-rich CN through a self-assembly process that enables precise control over the C/N ratio at the molecular level. Compared to pristine CN, carbon-rich CN exhibits enhanced cationic substrate adsorption due to altered zeta potential and an improved piezoelectric response stemming from reduced structural symmetry. These dual enhancements facilitate stronger substrate–catalyst interactions and accelerate substrate decomposition, thereby tripling the piezocatalytic activity of CN. This research introduces a novel approach for designing efficient and environmentally friendly piezocatalysts while contributing to a deeper understanding of piezocatalytic mechanisms.