Advance of the Modified g-C₃N₄ Materials by Doping WO_x (X=0.1, 0.2, 0.3)

The non-stoichiometric tungsten oxide nanostructure, WO_2.9 (W₂₅O₇₃, dark blue color) is an efficient electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution in acidic water, which has shown promise as an alternative to platinum (Nature Communications 2015, 6, 8064(1-7)). Generally speaking, the oxygen vacancies or oxygen deficiencies can affect the electronic band structure and enhance the conductivity. Blue tungsten oxide-based materials, WO_2.8 (W₅O₁₄) are used as promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (Adv. Funct. Mater. 2018, 28, 1707500). And sea urchin-like WO_2.7 (W₁₈O₄₉, purple color) nanowire can be used as a substrate material to magnify the substrate-analyte molecule interaction, leading to significant SERS response, even comparable to noble metals without ‘hot spots’. The extremely high electrocatalytic activity and SERS response can probably be attributed to the presence of oxygen deficiencies, either intrinsic or on the surface (Nature Communications 2015, 6, 7800(1-7)).

As shown in Figure 1, our group have drawn the color-filled maps of electron localization function and localized orbital locator. Chemical bonds, electronic clouds and lone pairs of electrons of g-C₃N₄ structure can be clearly seen. Based on our past work of the preparation and modification of g-C₃N₄ and their SERS sensing, photo/electro-catalytic applications (Carbon 2018, 130, 652-663; Carbon 2015, 87, 193-205; Carbon 2014, 80, 213-221; Applied Surface Science 2019, 467-468, 608-618; Catalysis Letters 2018, 148, 3342-3348; Applied Surface Science 2018, 430, 362-370; Materials Letters 2018, 212, 288-291; Scientific Reports 2016, 6, 34599(1-10); RSC Advances 2016, 6, 47368-47372), we expect that there will be a very strong electro-catalytic and optical performance based on the modified g-C₃N₄ materials by doping WO_2.9, WO_2.8 or WO_2.7. From the perspective of the experimental and DFT calculation, we are investigating the electron transfer of WO_x coordinated g-C₃N₄ and the catalytic performance of this kind of heterojunctions with oxygen deficiencies (Figure 1).

None.

No Conflict of Interest.