High efficiency photocatalytic CO2 reduction realized by Ca2+ and HDMP group Co-modified graphitic carbon nitride

Abstract

The development of highly efficient and visible-light responsive carbon nitride (CN) photocatalysts is desirable to address energy shortages and environmental pollution challenges. Herein, we synthesized novel 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (HDMP) group and Ca2+ co-modified carbon nitride (CN) photocatalyst (CN-CAA) using a facile in situ copolymerization procedure employing urea and calcium acetylacetonate (CAA) as precursors. The HDMP group and Ca2+ co-modification contributed to increased electron density and modulated electronic structure, resulting in extended visible light harvesting and accelerated separation and migration of photoinduced charge carriers. Benefiting from the enhanced visible light utilization and improved photoexcited carriers separation and transportation, the CN-CAA exhibited significantly elevated visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction. This work provided a new insight into the photocatalytic performance promotion of CN through molecular engineering and metal ions incorporation co-modification.