Heterostructures based on g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for the photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction
Roman Fedorovich Alekseev, Аndrey А. Saraev, Anna Yu. Kurenkova, Ekaterina A. Kozlova
Abstract
The interest of the global scientific community in the problems of CO<sub>2</sub> utilization and returning to the carbon cycle has markedly increased in recent years. Among various CO<sub>2</sub> transformation processes, photocatalytic reduction is one of the most promising. Currently, much attention is paid to photocatalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride, since the use of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> makes it possible to perform CO<sub>2</sub> reduction under visible or solar light irradiation. To increase the reduction efficiency, g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> is subjected to various modifications with the most popular and promising approach being the synthesis of composite photocatalysts based on g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> with other semiconductors to form heterostructures. Depending on the type of semiconductor, transfer of photogenerated charge carriers in these systems can occur by various mechanisms, which largely determine the course of the process and the rates of formation of reaction products. This review addresses studies on the synthesis of composite photocatalysts based on g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, with emphasis being placed on the mechanisms of charge carrier transfer and the distribution of products of CO<sub>2</sub> reduction. <br>The bibliography includes 235 references.