Oxygen Doping in Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

The incorporation of oxygenic groups could remarkably enhance the light absorption and charge separation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃ N₄ ). The intrinsic role of oxygenic species on photocatalytic activity in g-C₃ N₄ has been intensively studied, but it is still not fully explored. Herein, the essential relationships between oxygenic functionalities and the catalytic performance are revealed. Results demonstrate that C-O-C functionality as an electron trap could help to increase the resistance of conduction transfer (R_ct ) by limiting electrons transfer in CNx. In contrast, N-C-O functionality between different tri-s-triazine unites could promote the electrons transfer, leading to a reduced R_ct in CNx. The best H₂ production rate (3.70 mmol h^-1 g^-1 , 12.76-fold higher than that of CN) is obtained over CN3, because of the highest N-C-O ratio (r_N-C-O ). The apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of CN3 at 405 nm, 420 nm, 450 nm, 500 nm and 550 nm is 33.90 %, 20.88 %, 8.25 %, 3.66 % and 1.01 %, respectively.