Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• • Heterojunction construction with piezoelectric materials (e.g., CeO2/g-C3N4/PVDF) enhances charge separation, achieving a degradation rate of 0.023 min−1 for organic pollutants, a 2.3-fold improvement over pristine g-C3N4, critical for industrial wastewater treatment. • • Morphology engineering, such as porous nanosheets, increases surface area to 89 m2/g, boosting H2 evolution to 1234 μmol h−1 g−1 under visible light, a 4.5-fold enhancement, relevant for scalable solar fuel production. • • Element doping (e.g., phosphorus) extends visible-light absorption to 550 nm and reduces charge transfer resistance by 40%, improving photocurrent density to 0.85 mA cm−2, essential for efficient photoelectrochemical cells. • • In-situ characterizations reveal that strain-induced polarization shifts the d-band center by 0.3 eV, enhancing CO2 adsorption and photoreduction to CH4 with a selectivity of 92%, offering a route for carbon-neutral fuel synthesis.
Abstract
The escalating energy crisis and environmental pollution necessitate sustainable catalytic technologies. Piezo-photocatalysis, coupling light and mechanical energy via the piezoelectric effect, has emerged as a promising platform for energy conversion and environmental remediation. This review systematically summarizes recent progress in g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalysis, addressing the intrinsic limitations of pristine g-C3N4, including weak piezoelectric response, poor low-frequency mechanical response, rapid carrier recombination, and insufficient mechanical stability. Modification strategies such as heterojunction construction, morphology engineering, and element doping are detailed, emphasizing their roles in amplifying internal electric fields and promoting charge separation. The review highlights applications in H2 evolution, H2O2 generation, pollutant degradation, and CO2 photoreduction. Despite achievements, challenges remain in mechanistic understanding and performance optimization. This review provides guidance for rational design of g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalytic systems, accelerating their deployment in sustainable technologies.
1. Introduction
Conventional photocatalysts suffer from rapid charge recombination and limited light absorption, hindering practical efficiency. The integration of piezoelectric effects with photocatalysis offers a novel route to overcome these bottlenecks by creating internal electric fields that promote charge separation. However, pristine g-C3N4 exhibits weak piezoelectric response and poor mechanical stability, limiting its direct application.
This review addresses these challenges by systematically analyzing modification strategies—heterojunction construction, morphology engineering, and element doping—that amplify internal electric fields and enhance piezo-photocatalytic performance. By providing a comprehensive overview of mechanisms, applications, and remaining challenges, this work aims to guide the rational design of efficient g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalysts for sustainable energy and environmental technologies.
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Sifan Song, Dongxiao Wen, Xiaoyi Jiang, Jiahe Peng, Jizhou Jiang (2026). Emerging g-C3N4-Based Piezo-Photocatalysis: Synergistic Mechanisms, Modification Strategies, and Applications. SCIENCE CHINA Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-025-3837-1
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary failure mechanisms of g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalysts under prolonged mechanical stress?
Pristine g-C3N4 suffers from mechanical instability, leading to structural degradation and loss of piezoelectric response under repeated stress. Heterojunction with flexible PVDF (as in CeO2/g-C3N4/PVDF) improves mechanical robustness, maintaining 85% activity after 10 cycles, whereas pristine g-C3N4 retains only 40%.
How does the piezo-photocatalytic performance compare to conventional photocatalysis in terms of energy efficiency?
Piezo-photocatalysis enhances charge separation by 60% compared to photocatalysis alone, as evidenced by a 2.3-fold increase in degradation rate constants (0.023 min−1 vs 0.010 min−1). This translates to lower energy consumption per pollutant molecule degraded, making it more viable for industrial wastewater treatment.
What are the scalability bottlenecks for industrial deployment of g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalysts?
Scalability is limited by the high cost of piezoelectric materials and the complexity of heterojunction fabrication. However, using low-cost g-C3N4 and earth-abundant co-catalysts (e.g., AgCl) reduces material costs by 30% while maintaining H2 evolution rates above 1000 μmol h−1 g−1, as demonstrated in recent studies.
How does element doping affect the piezoelectric response and photocatalytic activity?
Phosphorus doping introduces mid-gap states, extending light absorption to 550 nm and enhancing piezoelectric response by 20% due to lattice distortion. This results in a 40% reduction in charge transfer resistance and a 2.5-fold increase in H2 evolution, as measured in P-doped g-C3N4.
What is the long-term stability of g-C3N4-based piezo-photocatalysts under operational conditions?
Long-term stability is a concern due to photocorrosion and mechanical fatigue. However, heterojunctions with stable oxides (e.g., TiO2) show only 10% activity loss after 50 hours of continuous operation, whereas pristine g-C3N4 loses 50% activity under identical conditions, indicating improved durability.
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