Metakaolin-based nano-structuring of polymeric carbon nitride and synchronous composite construction for superior photocatalytic H2 evolution

Nanostructure-tailoring and composite-construction are two effective strategies to optimize polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) for advanced photocatalysis. Herein, a vapor deposition process was adopted to grow PCN nanosheets on the surface of the cheap mineral metakaolin, achieving both the nano-structuring of PCN and the synchronous construction of metakaolin/nano-PCN composite. It showed a substantially improved photocatalytic H-2 evolution activity 3.8 times higher than the traditional bulk PCN under visible light. Performance gains benefit from the natural electronegativity of metakaolin and the nanosizing of PCN, which synergistically facilitate the separation and utilization of photoinduced charge carriers. This work may inspire not only the utilization of various clay minerals but also the nano-tailoring and composite-construction of PCN.