A concise review of recent advances in carbon nitride-based intramolecular donor–acceptor architectures for photocatalytic hydrogen production: Heteromolecular coupling of organic compounds

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a concise and focused review of the utilization of artificial donor–acceptor (D/A) conjugated systems based on graphitic carbon nitrides (g–CN) in relation to renewable energy and environmental applications. The review emphasizes the critical role played by charge transfer processes between D/A moieties, which significantly accelerate the injection of photoelectrons into the conduction band of g–CN-based semiconducting materials. Notably, the manipulation of energy levels and electron affinities within these systems exerts a profound influence on bandgap and electronic mobility, thereby resulting in modified compounds with superior properties. By specifically focusing on intramolecular D/A structures utilized for photocatalytic H2 production, this review redresses the current dearth of comprehensive scrutiny in this specialized domain. Additionally, the review elucidates the underlying principles governing electron donor–acceptor chemistry, while providing in-depth insights into the fabrication techniques employed for g–CN-based D/A configurations. Finally, it culminates in a concise summary of the most noteworthy studies concerning intramolecular donor–acceptor g–CN copolymeric materials employed in photocatalytic H2 evolution. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide scholars with a broader and more nuanced perspective, ultimately fostering the design and development of novel and innovative g–CN-based photocatalysts.