Synergistic Cu single‐atoms and clusters on tubular carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic performances

Abstract Metal clusters or even single‐atoms dispersed and anchored on the photocatalysts’ surface can enhance photocatalytic performances on organic pollutant oxidation. Here, a simple photoreduction method was used to create atomically dispersed metal single‐atoms/clusters (MSCs, M = Cu, Pd, Au and Ag) on P‐modulated tubular carbon nitride (TCN). The obtained MSCs@TCN demonstrated excellent photocatalytic performances for the degradation of sulfamethazine (SMZ). In particular, the photocatalyst with 2 wt% Cu loading showed ultrahigh SMZ oxidation efficiency ( k = 0.06110 min −1 ), almost three times that of TCN ( k = 0.02066 min −1 ). It also shows excellent stability in the 5th‐cycle measurements. The improved photocatalytic activity of the CuSCs@TCN is ascribed to the synergistic promotion of photogenerated charge separation by Cu single‐atoms/clusters as active sites, accelerated charge transfer from bulk TCN to Cu sites through Cu–N x interaction. Meanwhile, the active sites of Cu single‐atoms/clusters could promote the production of ·O 2 − , which participates in organic oxidation with strong oxidizing holes (h + ). This strategy paves a new avenue for designing high‐performance photocatalysts decorated with metal single‐atoms and clusters.