Graphitic carbon nitride for photocatalytic hydrogen production

Photocatalytic hydrogen production is a process that deals with the utilization of solar energy into green chemical fuel via photocatalysis phenomena using a novel photocatalyst. Over the past few decades, significant amount of research work has been carried out to enhance the production of hydrogen using various semiconductor materials. Graphitic carbon nitride is a metal-free conjugated polymer in two-dimensional structures with an energy bandgap suitable for visible light absorption with a potential to be used in enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production. Also, crystallinity and structural features of this catalyst are favorable for enhanced charge-carrier mobility with additional advantages such as, high chemical stability, nontoxic, abundant, and economically viable. In this context, we provide an overview on the recent advances of this material for photocatalytic hydrogen production experiments. Further, the role of cocatalysts, the presence of sensitizers as light-harvesting molecules and sacrificial agents involvement are discussed. Finally, the key challenges facing the development of this catalyst for hydrogen production are discussed.