@article {48261,
	title = {Covalently interconnected layers in g-C3N4: toward high mechanical stability, catalytic efficiency and sustainability},
	journal = {Applied Catalysis B: Environmental},
	volume = {322},
	year = {2023},
	month = {MAR},
	pages = {122069},
	type = {Article},
	abstract = {<p>
	The grim prospects for the industrial utilization of g-C3N4 nanosheets arise from multi-step processing resulting in low material yields and poor visible light response due to quantum confinement. Herein, we introduce a strategy for linking the adjacent layers of g-C3N4 covalently to realize a high surface area without excess mass loss in a one-step process by introducing diethylene glycol as a precursor that produces-(CH2)2-O-(CH2)2-linkers in-situ. Their presence increases interlayer spacing and introduces surface curvatures, discouraging the stacking of a larger number of layers to produce nanosheets with-3 times higher surface area. Interestingly, unlike other layered materials, the linkers also provide extraordinary mechanical stability against exfoliating forces. In addition, the process instills sub-bandgap states and a considerable visible light response at 500 nm to slow down the picosecond exciton recombination dynamics, resulting in-5 times enhancement in H2 generation efficiency from photocatalytic water-splitting over the bulk sample.</p>
},
	keywords = {Layer-linkers, Sustainable synthesis, Transient absorption spectroscopy, water-splitting},
	issn = {0926-3373},
	doi = {10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.122069},
	author = {Roy, Raj Sekhar and Mondal, Sanjit and Mishra, Samita and Banoo, Maqsuma and Sahoo, Lipipuspa and Kumar, Amit and Vinod, C. P. and De, Arijit K. and Gautam, Ujjal K.}
}
