Recent Progress on the Development of Carbon Nitride Based All-Solid Z-Scheme Photocatalyst for Solar Energy Conversion Applications

The visible-light responsive semiconductor carbon nitride (C3N4) exhibits suitable electronic band structure, rich sources of precursors, and high stability, which is exploited to satisfy energy demands. However, the photocatalytic efficiency of C3N4 is limited because of its low surface area and low separation and transfer efficiency of charge carriers. As Z-scheme strategy can effectively help C3N4 overcome its instinct shortage, this review will outline the recent significant progress on the development of C3N4-based all-solid Z-scheme photocatalysts for energy-conversion applications including water splitting and CO2 reduction. In the beginning, the fundamental principles of Z-scheme will be introduced, especially for all-solid-state system. Then, the comprehensive account of the development of C3N4-based Z-scheme photocatalysts are discussed. Finally, perspectives on the challenges and future directions at the forefront of Z-scheme photocatalysts are provided.