Sulfur doping effects on the electronic and geometric structures of graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst: insights from first principles.
We present  here results of our first-principles studies of the sulfur doping effects on the electronic and geometric structures of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C(3)N(4)). Using the ab initio thermodynamics approach combined with some kinetic analysis, we reveal the favorable S-doping configurations. By analyzing the valence charge densities of the doped and undoped systems, we find that sulfur partially donates its p(x)- and p(y)- electrons to the system with some back donation to the S p(z)-states. To obtain an accurate description of the excited electronic states, we calculate the electronic structure of the systems using the GW  method. The band gap width calculated for g-C(3)N(4) is found to be equal to 2.7 eV, which is in agreement with experiment. We find the S doping causes a significant narrowing of the gap. Furthermore, the electronic states just above the gap become occupied upon doping, making the material a conductor. Analysis of the projected local density of states provides an insight into the mechanism underlying such changes in the electronic structure of g-C(3)N(4) upon S doping. Based on our results, we propose a possible explanation for the S-doping effect on the photocatalytic properties of g-C(3)N(4) observed in experiments.
Physics Department, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.
Sergey
S
Stolbov
Sebastian
S
Zuluaga
D002384:Catalysis; D004583:Electrons; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry*; D013816:Thermodynamics
D009570:Nitriles; C011206:cyanogen; D013455:Sulfur; D006108:Graphite