The effects of bandgap and porosity on catalysis and materials characteristics of layered carbon nitrides

Abstract

In layered carbon nitrides, changing the C : N ratio and pore size can be a key to tuning their optical, adsorption, electronic and single-atom loading properties, as well as their band structures, bandgaps, and band edge levels. Such tuning can develop a favorable layered semiconductor, adsorbent, photo/electro-catalyst, or support material for loading catalytic species. Over the last few years, carbon nitride synthetic methods, monomers and modification methods (i.e., doping) have been vastly investigated. However, the effects of the pore size and C : N ratio on catalysis, as well as other photo/electric properties, are worth further research. Here, I discuss the different types of layered carbon nitrides with a focus on the role of pores and the C : N ratio and crystal structure, and eventually their effect on various features such as conductivity, charge carrier mobility, optical activity, and catalytic activity.