Dual-functional high-crystalline 3D core-shell hexagonal tubular sulfur-doped carbon nitride for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production and simultaneously pollutants degradation

Abstract

The use of semiconductor photocatalytic technology for water splitting to produce H₂ and degrade pollutants is a mild approach for clean energy conversion and environmental water purification. However, the rational design of photocatalysts with high carrier mobility remains a challenge. Herein, high-crystalline 3D core-shell hollow porous hexagonal tubular sulfur-doped carbon nitride (S-TCN) was synthesized through a simple and environmentally friendly supramolecular self-assembly strategy combined with a “salt-sealing” technique. This unique 3D structure facilitates the utilization of incident light, increases the active reaction sites, and improves interfacial mass transfer. The “salt-sealing” technique effectively enhances its crystallinity, while sulfur doping modification reduces the band gap and promotes separation and transfer of photogenerated carriers. Depend on the synergistic effect of morphology modulation, elemental doping, and high crystallinity, S-TCN exhibits significantly enhanced photoelectric conversion efficiency. It not only shows excellent performance for photocatalytic H₂ production in pure water, but also rapidly degrades pollutants while maintaining H₂ production activity in wastewater. The development of this dual-functional photocatalytic material holds important guiding significance for expanding the efficient application of polymer semiconductors.