Synthesis and Photocatalytic Activity of Poly(triazine imide)

Abstract Poly(triazine imide) was synthesized with incorporation of Li + and Cl − ions (PTI/Li + Cl − ) to form a carbon nitride derivative. The synthesis of this material by the temperature‐induced condensation of dicyandiamide was examined both in a eutectic mixture of LiCl–KCl and without KCl. On the basis of X‐ray diffraction measurements of the synthesized materials, we suggest that a stoichiometric amount of LiCl is necessary to obtain the PTI/Li + Cl − phase without requiring the presence of KCl at 873 K. PTI/Li + Cl − with modification by either Pt or CoO x as cocatalyst photocatalytically produced H 2 or O 2 , respectively, from water. The production of H 2 or O 2 from water indicates that the valence and conduction bands of PTI/Li + Cl − were properly located to achieve overall water splitting. The treatment of PTI/Li + Cl − with [Pt(NH 3 ) 4 ] 2+ cations enabled the deposition of Pt through ion exchange, demonstrating photocatalytic activity for H 2 evolution, while treatment with [PtCl 6 ] 2− anions resulted in no Pt deposition. This was most likely because of the preferential exchange between Li + ions and [Pt(NH 3 ) 4 ] 2+ cations.