TY - JOUR
T1 - Supramolecular Chemistry in Molten Sulfur
T2 - Preorganization Effects Leading to Marked Enhancement of Carbon Nitride Photoelectrochemistry
AU - Xu, Jingsan
AU - Cao, Shaowen
AU - Brenner, Thomas
AU - Yang, Xiaofei
AU - Yu, Jiaguo
AU - Antonietti, Markus
AU - Shalom, Menny
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
PY - 2015/10/1
Y1 - 2015/10/1
N2 - Here, a new method for enhancing the photoelectrochemical properties of carbon nitride thin films by in situ supramolecular-driven preorganization of phenyl-contained monomers in molten sulfur is reported. A detailed analysis of the chemical and photophysical properties suggests that the molten sulfur can texture the growth and induce more effective integration of phenyl groups into the carbon nitride electrodes, resulting in extended light absorption alongside with improved conductivity and better charge transfer. Furthermore, photophysical measurements indicate the formation of sub-bands in the optical bandgap which is beneficial for exciton splitting. Moreover, the new bands can mediate hole transfer to the electrolyte, thus improving the photooxidation activity. The utilization of high temperature solvent as the polymerization medium opens new opportunities for the significant improvement of carbon nitride films toward an efficient photoactive material for various applications.
AB - Here, a new method for enhancing the photoelectrochemical properties of carbon nitride thin films by in situ supramolecular-driven preorganization of phenyl-contained monomers in molten sulfur is reported. A detailed analysis of the chemical and photophysical properties suggests that the molten sulfur can texture the growth and induce more effective integration of phenyl groups into the carbon nitride electrodes, resulting in extended light absorption alongside with improved conductivity and better charge transfer. Furthermore, photophysical measurements indicate the formation of sub-bands in the optical bandgap which is beneficial for exciton splitting. Moreover, the new bands can mediate hole transfer to the electrolyte, thus improving the photooxidation activity. The utilization of high temperature solvent as the polymerization medium opens new opportunities for the significant improvement of carbon nitride films toward an efficient photoactive material for various applications.
KW - carbon nitride thin film
KW - charge transfer
KW - molten sulfur
KW - photoelectrochemistry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84944281124&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/adfm.201502843
DO - 10.1002/adfm.201502843
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84944281124
SN - 1616-301X
VL - 25
SP - 6265
EP - 6271
JO - Advanced Functional Materials
JF - Advanced Functional Materials
IS - 39
ER -