@article{ShalomInalNeheretal.2014,
  author    = {Shalom, Menny and Inal, Sahika and Neher, Dieter and Antonietti, Markus},
  title     = {SiO2/carbon nitride composite materials: The role of surfaces for enhanced photocatalysis},
  series = {Catalysis today : a serial publication dealing with topical themes in catalysis and related subjects},
  volume    = {225},
  journal   = {Catalysis today : a serial publication dealing with topical themes in catalysis and related subjects},
  publisher = {Elsevier},
  address   = {Amsterdam},
  issn      = {0920-5861},
  doi       = {10.1016/j.cattod.2013.12.013},
  pages     = {185 -- 190},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {The effect of SiO2 nanoparticles on carbon nitride (C3N4) photoactivity performance is described. The composite SiO2-C3N4 materials exhibit a higher activity in the photo degradation of RhB dye. A detailed analysis of the chemical and optical properties of the composite C3N4 materials shows that the photo activity increases with higher SiO2 concentration. We found out that the presence of SiO2 nanoparticles strongly affects the fluorescence intensity of the matrix and life time by the creation of new energy states for charge transfer within the C3N4. Furthermore, the use of SiO2 in the synthesis of C3N4 leads to new morphology with higher surface area which results in another, secondary improvement of C3N4 photoactivity. The effect of different surfaces within C3N4 on its chemical and electronic properties is discussed and a tentative mechanism is proposed. The utilization of SiO2 nanoparticles improves both photophysical and chemical properties of C3N4 and opens new possibilities for further enhancement of C3N4 catalytic properties by the formation of composites with many other materials.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ShalomGuttentagFettkenhaueretal.2014,
  author    = {Shalom, Menny and Guttentag, Miguel and Fettkenhauer, Christian and Inal, Sahika and Neher, Dieter and Llobet, Antoni and Antonietti, Markus},
  title     = {In situ formation of heterojunctions in modified graphitic carbon nitride: synthesis and noble metal free photocatalysis},
  series = {Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society},
  volume    = {26},
  journal   = {Chemistry of materials : a publication of the American Chemical Society},
  number    = {19},
  publisher = {American Chemical Society},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {0897-4756},
  doi       = {10.1021/cm503258z},
  pages     = {5812 -- 5818},
  year      = {2014},
  abstract  = {Herein, we report the facile synthesis of an efficient roll-like carbon nitride (C3N4) photocatalyst for hydrogen production using a supramolecular complex composed of cyanuric acid, melamine, and barbituric acid as the starting monomers. Optical and photocatalytic investigations show, along with the known red shift of absorption into the visible region, that the insertion of barbituric acid results in the in situ formation of in-plane heterojuctions, which enhance the charge separation process under illumination. Moreover, platinum as the standard cocatalyst in photocatalysis could be successfully replaced with first row transition metal salts and complexes under retention of 50\% of the catalytic activity. Their mode of deposition and interaction with the semiconductor was studied in detail. Utilization of the supramolecular approach opens new opportunities to manipulate the charge transfer process within carbon nitride with respect to the design of a more efficient carbon nitride photocatalyst with controlled morphology and optical properties.},
  language  = {en}
}