Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with a band gap of 2.7 eV is studied as a nonmetallic photocatalyst for H2 or O2 evolution from water under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The g-C3N4 catalyst exhibits activities for water reduction into H2 or water oxidation into O2 in the presence of a proper sacrificial electron donor or acceptor, respectively, even without the need for precious metal cocatalysts. When bis(1,5-cyclooctadiene)platinum complex [Pt(cod)2] (a nonionic complex) is used as a precursor of Pt cocatalyst instead of H2PtCl6 (an ionic complex), enhanced H2 evolution activity is acquired. This difference in activity is primarily due to the better dispersion of Pt nanoparticles on g-C3N4, which is considered to originate from the better access of Pt(cod)2 to the g-C3N4 surface, as compared to that of H2PtCl6 in the preparation process. Unmodified g-C3N4 produces O2 from an aqueous silver nitrate solution upon UV irradiation (λ > 300 nm), although N2 release due to self-decomposition of g-C3N4 ...