π-deficient pyridine ring-incorporated carbon nitride polymers for photocatalytic H2 evolution and CO2 fixation

The incorporation of organic molecules in the framework of carbon nitride (CN) polymers by co-polymerization is a conventional strategy to optimize the optoelectronic properties and thus improve the photoactivity of CN polymers. Herein, we report π-deficient pyridine ring, namely 2, 6-diaminopyridine, as organic monomer to bind into the conjugation system of CN polymers. The optimal CN polymer has presented improved efficiency of visible light absorption, and it shows enhanced photocatalytic activity over non-modified CN photocatalyst in the H2 evolution reaction and CO2 reduction reaction under visible light illumination. This co-polymerized photocatalyst offers opportunities for further developments of advanced photoredox catalysis using sustainable polymeric semiconductors.