Hexagonal-borocarbonitride (h-BCN) based heterostructure photocatalyst for energy and environmental applications: A review

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2023

Abstract

Formulation of heterojunction with remarkable high efficiency by utilizing solar light is promising to synchronously overcome energy and environmental crises. In this concern, hexagonal-borocarbonitride (h-BCN) based Z-schemes have proved potential candidates due to their spatially separated oxidation and reduction sites, robust light-harvesting ability, high charge pair migration and separation, and strong redox ability. H-BCN has emerged as a hotspot in the research field as a metal-free photocatalyst with a tunable bandgap range of 0–5.5 eV. The BCN photocatalyst displayed synergistic benefits of both graphene and boron nitride. Herein, the review demonstrates the current state-of-the-art in the Z-scheme photocatalytic application with a special emphasis on the predominant features of their photoactivity. Initially, fundamental aspects and various synthesis techniques are discussed, including thermal polymerization, template-assisted, and template-free methods. Afterward, the reaction mechanism of direct Z-scheme photocatalysts and indirect Z-scheme (all-solid-state) are highlighted. Moreover, the emerging Step-scheme (S-scheme) systems are briefly deliberated to understand the charge transfer pathway mechanism with an induced internal electric field. This review critically aims to comprehensively summarize the photo-redox applications of various h-BCN-based heterojunction photocatalysts including CO2 photoreduction, H2 evolution, and pollutants degradation. Finally, some challenges and future direction of h-BCN-based Z-scheme photocatalyst in environmental remediation are also proposed.

Identifier

85144630364 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Chemosphere

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137610

e-ISSN

18791298

ISSN

00456535

PubMed ID

36563726

Volume

313

Grant

2020H1D3A1A04081409

Fund Ref

Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning

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