Electron-enriched Lewis acid-base sites on red carbon nitride for simultaneous hydrogen production and glucose isomerization

Glucose isomerization into fructose is a key process in industry for biomass valorization to produce value-added biofuels and biochemicals. Herein, considering the essential role of Lewis acid-base sites in proton transfer during glucose isomerization and hydrogen evolution process, a bifunctional polymeric red carbon nitride (PRCN) is rationally designed and fabricated by the salt-template-induced carbon incorporation strategy. The incorporation of carbon and potassium in the PRCN leads to the transient redistribution of photogenerated charges, acting as the electron-enriched Lewis base site and acid site for the deprotonation of O2-H and activation of aldehyde group of glucose, respectively. Besides, the interfacial Schottky junction boosts H2 production under visible light irradiation. This work demonstrates the feasibility of biomass photorefinery with H2 and value-added chemicals co-production under mild condition.