Schiff-base-rich g-C x N 4 supported PdAg nanowires as an efficient Mott–Schottky catalyst boosting photocatalytic dehydrogenation of formic acid

Developing an efficient photocatalyst, catalyzing formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation, can satisfy the demand of the H2 energy. Herein, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-CxN4)-based nanosheet (x = 3.2, 3.6 or 3.8) with melem rings conjugated by Schiff-base bond (N=C–C=N) was synthesized, tuning the bandgaps (Eg) of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) in the range of 1.8   400 nm) without any additive at 25 °C, which is the best value among ever-reported ones. This work provides a new strategy to boost dehydrogenation photocatalysis of FA, which will be promising for practical application of H2 in future energy field.