Heterostructures based on g-C3N4 for photocatalytic CO2 reduction

In recent years, the interest of the global scientific community in the problems of CO₂ recycling and returning to the carbon cycle has markedly increased. Among various CO₂ 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-C₃N₄ makes it possible to perform CO₂ reduction under visible or solar radiation. To increase the efficiency of this process, g-C₃N₄ is subjected to various modifications; the most popular and promising approach is the synthesis of composite photocatalysts based on g-C₃N₄ with other semiconductors to form heterostructures. Depending on the type of semiconductor, transfer of photogenerated charges in these systems can occur by various mechanisms, which largely determine the direction of the process and the rate of formation of reaction products. This review addresses studies on the synthesis of composite photocatalysts based on g-C₃N₄, with emphasis being placed on the mechanisms of charge transfer and the distribution of products of CO₂ reduction.
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