Graphitic carbon nitride heterojunction photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production is considered as an ideal approach to solve global energy crisis and environmental pollution. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has received extensive consideration due to its facile synthesis, stable physicochemical properties, and easy functionalization. However, the pristine g-C3N4 usually shows unsatisfactory photocatalytic activity due to the limited separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers. Generally, introducing semiconductors or co-catalysts to construct geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts is recognized as an effective method to solve this bottleneck. In this review, the advantages and characteristics of various types of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction are analyzed. Subsequently, the recent progress of highly efficient geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts in the field of photocatalytic water splitting is emphatically introduced. Finally, a vision of future perspectives and challenges of geC(3)N(4)-based heterojunction photocatalysts in hydrogen production are presented. Predictably, this timely review will provide valuable reference for the design of efficient heterojunctions towards photocatalytic water splitting and other photoredox reactions.