Photocatalytic Efficiency in Carbon Nanomaterials
Summary
Carbon nanomaterials have emerged as versatile platforms for harnessing solar energy to drive chemical transformations. Their tunable electronic structures, large specific surface areas and rich surface chemistries make them ideal candidates for photocatalytic applications such as water splitting, pollutant degradation and greenhouse‐gas reduction. Key drivers of enhanced photocatalytic efficiency include the promotion of charge separation, extension of light absorption into the visible spectrum and maximisation of active sites. Strategies such as doping with heteroatoms, construction of semiconductor–carbon heterojunctions and incorporation of carbon quantum dots have delivered significant improvements in photocatalytic performance. The global significance of these materials lies in their potential to provide sustainable routes for clean fuel production, water purification and mitigation of environmental pollutants under mild and solar‐driven conditions.
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Photocatalytic Efficiency in Carbon Nanomaterials publication trend
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Technical terms
Carbon quantum dots (CQDs): Nanoscale (<10 nm) carbon particles exhibiting size‐dependent photoluminescence and efficient electron‐transfer capabilities.
Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄): A metal‐free, polymeric semiconductor with layered structure, suitable for visible‐light photocatalysis.
Heterojunction: Interface formed between two semiconductors that promotes spatial separation of photogenerated charge carriers.
Electron–hole pair: A combination of a photoexcited electron in the conduction band and its complementary positive vacancy (hole) in the valence band.
Photocatalytic efficiency: Quantitative measure of a material’s ability to convert photons into desired chemical reactions, often expressed as reaction rate or quantum yield.
References
- In-plane implanting carbon rings into carbon nitride to intrigue nonradical photodegradation. Applied Catalysis B Environment and Energy (2024).
- Photocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac by Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Quantum Dot-Graphitic Carbon Nitride (CNQD). Catalysts (2023).
- Carbon Dots Anchoring Single-Atom Pt on C3N4 Boosting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution. Molecules (2024).
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