Bimetallic nanoparticles meet polymeric carbon nitride: Fabrications, catalytic applications and perspectives

Catalysis is reckoned as a prospective strategy to address environmental pollution and energy needs, and it has anticipated application prospects in various industries. The major challenges in constructing catalysts are assuring the rapid conversion of catalyzed processes and maintaining high selectivity to desired products. Bimetallic nanoparticles always exhibit exceptional catalytic performance, owing to the different ensemble and electronic structures induced by alloying as well as the synergistic effects. However, avoiding aggregation during the reaction process to reduce the passivation or poison of the metal site is still a serious problem. Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) with excellent thermal and chemical stability is now a promising multifunctional catalyst and co-catalyst for its superior catalytic, optical and electronic properties. Recently, PCN modified by bimetallic nanoparticles with distinct functionalities has sparked considerable interest in the field of redox catalysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis. Due to synergistic effects between different components, the combined bimetallic nanoparticles/PCN materials show much improved activity. Referring to this review, we systematically detailed the synthesis path of bimetallic nanoparticles/PCN composites and their applications in different catalytic fields with particular emphasis on the synergistic mechanism. Ultimately, the challenges and perspectives faced in this subject have been presented.