Research progress on g-C3N4-based Z-scheme photocatalytic system

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising photocatalyst because of its low cost, high stability, and visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. Z-scheme photocatalysts based on g-C3N4 (Z-g-C3N4) have attracted considerable attention because of their lower recombination rate of electron-holes and higher catalytic efficiency. In this review, the reaction mechanism of Z-scheme photocatalysis and the recent progress in Z-g-C3N4 are introduced and reviewed. The applications of Z-g-C3N4, such as water splitting and CO2 reduction, are presented. The key factors that affect the photocatalytic performance, such as pH and the presence of electron mediators, are discussed. Moreover, the current challenges are described and the future development of Z-g-C3N4 is forecast.