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Updated: Jul 18, 2025

Synthesis and Performance Characterizations of Transition Metal Single Atom Catalyst for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Published on: April 10, 2018
Carbon Nitrides from Supramolecular Crystals: From Single Atoms to Heterojunctions and Advanced Photoelectrodes
Jesús Barrio1, Junyi Li2, Menny Shalom2
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW72AZ, England, UK.
Abstract:
Carbon nitride materials (CN) have become one of the most studied photocatalysts within the last 15 years. While CN absorbs visible light, its low porosity and fast electron-hole recombination hinder its photoelectric performance and have motivated the research in the modification of its physical and chemical properties (such as energy band structure, porosity, or chemical composition) by different means. In this Concept we review the utilization of supramolecular crystals as CN precursors to tailor its properties. We elaborate on the features needed in a supramolecular crystal to serve as CN precursor, we delve on the influence of metal-free crystals in the morphology and porosity of the resulting materials and then discuss the formation of single atoms and heterojunctions when employing a metal-organic crystal. We finally discuss the performance of CN photoanodes derived from crystals and highlight the current standing challenges in the field.
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