Amide bonded polymeric carbon nitride for photocatalytic O2 activation and NO oxidation

Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) photocatalysts have the potential to remove NO from ambient air. However, the catalytic performance of PCN is limited by the lack of sufficient active sites to effectively activate molecular oxygen. Herein, we report the construction of photocatalysts consisting of defective-activated-carbon and PCN via amide bond formation. This photocatalyst not only significantly enhances the chemisorption of O2, but also accelerates the activation of molecular oxygen and oxidation of NO by creating a new electron transport pathway. This work provides a new strategy for polymer photocatalysts to promote molecular oxygen activation by constructing close-contact interfaces through amide bonding.