In summary, we have developed a facile and universal one-pot
bottom-up approach to modify the structure and catalytic performance
of g-CN by integrating phenylurea into the traditional polymerization
route of carbon nitride precursors (e.g., urea, thiourea,
dicyandiamide, and ammonium thiocyanide). Due to the extension
of the delocalized p-conjugation system, enhanced optical absorption,
optimized electronic band structure, and texture were generated.
Urea copolymerized with phenylurea lead to the most
effective optimization of g-CNs. The fusion of phenyl group in conjugated
carbon nitride seems to make it a more effective visiblelight-driven
photocatalyst. This work give ideas for the designing
of high-efficient carbon nitride photocatalyst by using chemically
compatible CN precursors and co-monomers, being valuable in carbon
nitride photocatalysis for water splitting and organic
synthesis.