Zhang, JunfangJunfangZhangZhu, YuntaoYuntaoZhuChristian, NjelNjelChristianLiu, YuxinYuxinLiuDallabernardina, PietroPietroDallabernardinaStevens, Molly M.Molly M.StevensSeeberger, Peter H.Peter H.SeebergerSavateev, OleksandrOleksandrSavateevLoeffler, Felix F.Felix F.Loeffler2025-12-042025-12-042023-12-01Nature Communications 14 (1): 7104 (2023)https://hdl.handle.net/11420/59390Organic semiconductors, such as carbon nitride, when employed as powders, show attractive photocatalytic properties, but their photoelectrochemical performance suffers from low charge transport capability, charge carrier recombination, and self-oxidation. High film-substrate affinity and well-designed heterojunction structures may address these issues, achieved through advanced film generation techniques. Here, we introduce a spin coating pretreatment of a conductive substrate with a multipurpose polymer and a supramolecular precursor, followed by chemical vapor deposition for the synthesis of dual-layer carbon nitride photoelectrodes. These photoelectrodes are composed of a porous microtubular top layer and an interlayer between the porous film and the conductive substrate. The polymer improves the polymerization degree of carbon nitride and introduces C-C bonds to increase its electrical conductivity. These carbon nitride photoelectrodes exhibit state-of-the-art photoelectrochemical performance and achieve high yield in C-H functionalization. This carbon nitride photoelectrode synthesis strategy may be readily adapted to other reported processes to optimize their performance.en2041-172320231Technology::600: TechnologyJournal Article10.1038/s41467-023-42851-wJournal Article