Recent Development of Photocatalysts Containing Carbon Species: A Review

Abstract

Undoubtedly, carbon-based (nano)composites can be promising photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic activity due to the coupling effect from the incorporation of carbon species. In this mini-review, we focus on the recent development of photocatalysts based on carbon-based (nano)composites. TiO2 is well-known as a typical photocatalyst. Special attention is paid to the various types of carbon–TiO2 composites such as C-doped TiO2, N–C-doped TiO2, metal–C-doped TiO2, and other co-doped C/TiO2 composites. Various synthetic strategies including the solvothermal/hydrothermal method, sol–gel method, and template-directed method are reviewed for the preparation of carbon-based TiO2 composites. C/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composites and ternary C-doped composites are also summarized and ascribed to the unique electronic structure of g-C3N4 and the synergistic effect of the ternary interfaces, respectively. In the end, we put forward the future perspective of the photocatalysts containing carbon species based on our knowledge.