Molecular Assembly Unlocks Dual‐Defect Synergy in Carbon Nitride for Efficient H <sub>2</sub> O <sub>2</sub> Photosynthesis
While promising for photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) production, the performance of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) is curtailed by a central synthesis paradox: the mutually exclusive conditions required to simultaneously create its most effective dual active sites-nitrogen vacancies and cyano groups. Herein, this paradox is resolved with a molecular assembly-molten salt coupling strategy, a precise bottom-up approach enabling the one-step, synergistic creation of K-doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> with both defect types. This photocatalyst achieves an exceptional H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production activity of 2.65 mmol·g<sup>-1</sup>·h<sup>-1</sup>, which is 6.2 and 3.0 times higher than that of pristine and physically-ground K-doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, respectively. Characterization and theoretical calculations reveal that molecular assembly promotes K<sup>+</sup> interlayer embedding to facilitate charge migration, while the dual defects exhibit functional complementarity: nitrogen vacancies enhance O<sub>2</sub> adsorption, and cyano groups facilitate proton coupling. In situ analysis also confirms an easier O<sub>2</sub> activation effect and a lowered energy barrier for <sup>*</sup>OOH formation, ensuring high selectivity via a two-step, single-electron pathway. This study not only offers a route to rationally engineer dual-defect sites in carbon nitride but also provides a generalizable strategy for designing other advanced photocatalysts.
Authors
- Fu‐Zhen Xuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7404-2671)
- Jing Ming Xu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2998-3878)
- Pengfei Tian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0261-8536)
- Xiaolin Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9256-2451)
- Minghui Zhu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1593-9320)
- Jiangtao Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2995-4759)
Institutions
- East China University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Guangxi University (CN)
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Science
- Published
- 2025-11-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202517957
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.36
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality
- Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities