Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation using Graphitic Carbon Nitride: A Review

Abstract

AbstractIn this work, research articles dealing with the photocatalytic fixation of nitrogen using graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) were reviewed starting from 2015 when the first paper on this topic was published. The NH3/NH4+ production rates were adopted from these articles and statistically processed. The highest rate obtained by the composite g‐C3N4 and 1T‐MoS2 was 11120 μmol g−1 L−1 h−1. The highest reported rate provided by bulk (bare) g‐C3N4 was 5561 μmol g−1 L−1 h−1, which was higher than 90 % of the rates provided by the various composites of g‐C3N4. The quantum efficiency of the composites varied from 0.033 to 5.65 % with a median of 1.25 %. Although these results are still not competitive with the industrial Haber‐Bosh process, graphitic carbon nitride is recommended as a promising material for the future investigation of photocatalytic nitrogen fixation under visible light.