Enhanced Organic Photocatalysis in Confined Flow through a Carbon Nitride Nanotube Membrane with Conversions in the Millisecond Regime
Yajun Zou, Kai Xiao, Qing Qin, Jian‐Wen Shi, Tobias Heil, Yevheniia Markushyna, Lei Jiang, Markus Antonietti, Aleksandr Savateev
Abstract
. Such high rates are otherwise only known for special enzymes and are clearly attributed to the confinement of the studied reactions within the one-dimensional nanochannels of the CNN membrane. Namely, a concave surface maintains the internal electric field induced by the polar surface of the carbon nitride inside the nanotube, which is essential for polarization of reagent molecules and extension of the lifetime of the photogenerated charge carriers. The enhanced flow rate upon confinement provides crucial insight on catalysis in such an environment from a physical chemistry perspective. This confinement strategy is envisioned not only to realize highly efficient reactions but also to gain a fundamental understanding of complex chemical processes.