Synthesis of Porous Carbon Nitride Nanobelts for Efficient Photocatalytic Reduction of CO 2 .

Sustainable conversion of CO 2 to fuels using solar energy is highly attractive for fuel production. This work focuses on the synthesis of porous graphitic carbon nitride nanobelt catalyst (PN-g-C 3 N 4 ) and its capability of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction. The surface area increased from 6.5 m 2 ·g -1 (graphitic carbon nitride, g-C 3 N 4 ) to 32.94 m 2 ·g -1 (PN-g-C 3 N 4 ). C≡N groups and vacant N 2C were introduced on the surface. PN-g-C 3 N 4 possessed higher absorbability of visible light and excellent photocatalytic activity, which was 5.7 and 6.3 times of g-C 3 N 4 under visible light and simulated sunlight illumination, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity may be owing to the porous nanobelt structure, enhanced absorbability of visible light, and surface vacant N-sites. It is expected that PN-g-C 3 N 4 would be a promising candidate for CO 2 photocatalytic conversion.