Negative inductive effect enhances charge transfer driving in sulfonic acid functionalized graphitic carbon nitride with efficient visible-light photocatalytic performance

Efficient photogenerated carrier migration/separation plays a critical role in increasing the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4. Herein, sulfonic acid group-functionalized g-C3N4 (SACN) was synthesized and then synchronously strengthened by facile-solid-state thermal reaction sulfamic acid. As solid strong acid, can be used to achieve etching on surface with assistance treatment, leading an enlarged specific area increased catalytic sites. More importantly, our experiments density functional theory calculations indicate that driving force generated negative inductive effect groups significantly improves charge transfer dynamics effectively inhibits their recombination. Moreover, induce redistribution, which reduces conduction band potential enhance reduction ability photo-induced electrons. result, SACN-400 sample showed excellent H2 generation apparent quantum efficiency 11.03% at 420 ± 15 nm, as well efficient photodegradation rate for organic pollutants.