@article{Jiang2026, 
author = {Heyan Jiang and Denghong Zhao and Long Qin and Jia Zeng and Hang Liu and Mingwei Yang and Rui Wang and Bin Sun},
title = {Photocatalytic benzylic and aliphatic sp3 C–H activation and CO2 carboxylation over Z-scheme CdS@g-C3N4},
year = {2026},
journal = {Nano Research},
volume = {19},
number = {1},
pages = {94907941},
keywords = {sp3 C–H activation, CO2 carboxylation, Z-scheme CdS@graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), photocatalysis},
url = {https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/NR.2025.94907941},
doi = {10.26599/NR.2025.94907941},
abstract = {Achieving heterogeneous photocatalytic activation of sp3 C–H bonds and carboxylation of CO2 to produce arylacetic acids and alkyl carboxylic acids with increased carbon chains is a highly significant and demanding research endeavor. In this work, a new method for synthesizing redox centers spatially separated Z-scheme CdS@graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was developed, aiming to achieve photocatalytic benzylic and aliphatic sp3 C–H activation as well as CO2 carboxylation without sacrificial agent. Notably, both benzylic and aliphatic sp3 C–H activation together with CO2 carboxylation were achieved in heterogeneous photocatalytic system, resulting in the production of carboxylic acids with increased carbon chains under mild conditions. Various methylbenzene derivatives and cycloalkanes were employed to synthesize carbon-chain increased acids via a process involving K3PO4-assisted photogenerated holes activation for benzyl radical generation, photoinduced CO2 reduction, as well as solvent-assisted chemoselective carboxylation. Various characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) results revealed that Z-scheme CdS@g-C3N4 not just significantly enhanced separation of charges and accumulation of photoinduced electrons on g-C3N4 but also facilitated adsorption along with activation of CO2. This research provided novel heterogeneous photocatalytic approach to produce carbon chains increased carboxylic acids via sp3 C–H activation and CO2 carboxylation.}
}