Fabrication of high-performance polymeric graphitic carbon nitride films: Investigation of carrier dynamics, energy level engineering, and graphitic stacking

Photocatalysis is one of the most exciting solar light-assisted applications, in which energy is converted using semiconductor materials and the synergistic effect of light photons and catalyst. Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) nanomaterials is one of such photocatalyst which has undergone a resurgence as viable supports and co-catalysts in photocatalysis because of their tunable reaction sites, high catalytic activity, rare element-free composition, good photoelectric capabilities, low cost, and ease of mass production and scale-up. Besides its multifunctional capabilities, a high charge carrier recombination rate results in low quantum efficiency, limiting its photocatalytic applicability. As a result, altering its photocatalytic activity has become an important study topic. Hence the aim of this project is to vary the doping and composition of the carbon nitrides, blend the graphitic carbon nitrides with various polymers, and study the carrier dynamics, energy level engineering, and graphitic stacking of the gCN layer. The overall goal of this project is to fabricate high-quality solution-processed gCN thin films and use them to construct high-performance photocatalysts for CO2 reduction, water-splitting and surface catalytic reactions.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karthik Shankar

Student:

Partner:

Technical University of Munich

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Environmental Science and Technology; Green/Alternative Energy; Nanotechnology; Quantum Science

University:

University of Alberta

Program: