Local spatial charge separation and proton activation induced by surface hydroxylation promoting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of polymeric carbon nitride

Surface hydroxylation of polymeric carbon nitride could induce the redistribution of local charge between OH and carbon nitride plane, which polarizes the lone pair electrons of two-coordinated N atoms to allow them deviation from the original orbit, promoting local spatial charge separation and proton activation for high-efficiency H2 evolution with an AQY of 9.1% at 420 ± 15 nm.432