Synergistic Tridoped Graphitic Carbon Nitride: A Multifunctional Photocatalyst for Suzuki Coupling and NADPH Regeneration

Multifunctional materials are shaping the future of technology, paving the way for sustainable and versatile industrial solutions. This work presents the development of a tridoped graphitic carbon nitride, i.e., B–S–Se-doped g-C3N4 (TGCN) material, which has exhibited excellent efficiency in photocatalytic Suzuki coupling reactions, along with remarkable potential for NADPH regeneration. Additionally, this catalyst exhibited its versatility by lowering the reaction temperature from 100 to 80 °C when incorporated in thermally mediated Suzuki coupling, further highlighting its superior catalytic performance. The TGCN photocatalyst was prepared by simply mixing melamine, thiourea, selenium dioxide, and boric acid in distilled water, followed by sonication, drying, and calcination for 3 h. The as synthesized material was subjected to series of characterization, revealing successful doping of B, S, and Se within the graphitic carbon nitride structure. This doping combined with its synergistic effects enhanced charge carrier dynamics, facilitated efficient charge separation, increased light absorbance, and optimized the band gap. Notably, the photocatalytic performance of TGCN exceeded that of singly doped variants, highlighting the significance of its synergistic effect. In light-mediated Suzuki coupling reaction when the TGCN photocatalyst was combined with Pd (PPh3)4, it eliminated the need for external heat, achieving high selectivity and product yield of 83% with a TOF of 42 h–1 in a shorter reaction time compared to thermally conducted reactions, which required heating and took a longer reaction time. It also demonstrated a notable 93.32% yield in photocatalytic NADPH regeneration, outperforming singly doped variants. The structural modifications induced by doping have enhanced the material’s advanced properties and versatility, allowing its effective use across various applications. These diverse applications address key challenges in the fields of chemistry and energy production.