Polymeric Photocatalysts Based on Graphitic Carbon Nitride

TLDR

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis, highlighted by the 2009 discovery of graphitic carbon nitride for visible‑light water splitting, is a promising strategy to address global energy shortages and environmental pollution. This review aims to summarize recent progress in designing and preparing g‑C3N4‑based photocatalysts, covering pristine nanostructure fabrication, bandgap engineering via doping and modification, and composite preparation. The review discusses applications in water splitting, CO₂ reduction, pollutant degradation, organic synthesis, and bacterial disinfection, emphasizing carbon material promotion, non‑noble‑metal cocatalysts, and Z‑scheme heterojunctions. The review concludes with remarks and perspectives on future development of g‑C3N4‑based photocatalysts.

Abstract

Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is considered to be an attractive way for solving the worldwide energy shortage and environmental pollution issues. Since the pioneering work in 2009 on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for visible-light photocatalytic water splitting, g-C3N4 -based photocatalysis has become a very hot research topic. This review summarizes the recent progress regarding the design and preparation of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts, including the fabrication and nanostructure design of pristine g-C3N4 , bandgap engineering through atomic-level doping and molecular-level modification, and the preparation of g-C3N4 -based semiconductor composites. Also, the photo-catalytic applications of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts in the fields of water splitting, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, organic syntheses, and bacterial disinfection are reviewed, with emphasis on photocatalysis promoted by carbon materials, non-noble-metal cocatalysts, and Z-scheme heterojunctions. Finally, the concluding remarks are presented and some perspectives regarding the future development of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts are highlighted.