g-C3N4-Based Nanomaterials for Visible Light-Driven Photocatalysis

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) is a promising material for photocatalytic applications such as solar fuels production through CO 2 reduction and water splitting, and environmental remediation through the degradation of organic pollutants. This promise reflects the advantageous photophysical properties of g-C 3 N 4 nanostructures, notably high surface area, quantum efficiency, interfacial charge separation and transport, and ease of modification through either composite formation or the incorporation of desirable surface functionalities. Here, we review recent progress in the synthesis and photocatalytic applications of diverse g-C 3 N 4 nanostructured materials, and highlight the physical basis underpinning their performance for each application. Potential new architectures, such as hierarchical or composite g-C 3 N 4 nanostructures, that may offer further performance enhancements in solar energy harvesting and conversion are also outlined.

Nanostructured Carbon Nitrides for CO2 Capture and Conversion

“…In addition, this wonder material with unique properties has been predicted as the future‐generation metal‐free photocatalyst, electrocatalyst, catalyst support, and a host to chelate with metal ions . A wide variety of low‐cost high nitrogen‐containing organic molecular precursors such as guanidine, cyanamide, melamine, urea, dicyandiamide (DCDA), ammonium thiocyanate, and thiourea, can be employed for synthesizing various forms of g‐C 3 N 4 . A perfect semiconducting bandgap accompanied by suitable band edges constitute as ideal parameters of g‐C 3 N 4 that account for its use in various applications such as photocatalytic pathway for the production of H 2 from water through hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), photoreduction of CO 2 into value‐added high energy fuels, clean water production via degradation of organic pollutants, and catalysis in organic synthesis for the production of fine chemicals (Figure B,C) …”

From Heptazines to Triazines – On the Formation of Poly(triazine imide)

“…This material with an approximate composition close to C 6 N 9 H 3 that, however, shows some variability, exhibits electronic properties that make it a promising candidate as a photocatalyst for various applications, such as pollutant degradation for wastewater purification, bacterial disinfection, CO 2 reduction for photochemical fuel generation and most prominently H 2 generation via photocatalytic water splitting , . The means to optimize PCN for these purposes include nanostructuring, metal and non‐metal doping and formation of heterojunctions and composite materials of various kinds . While the number of different approaches is large, the basic material almost always stays the same.…”

“…[4,5] The means to optimize PCN for these purposes include nanostructuring, metal and nonmetal doping and formation of heterojunctions and composite materials of various kinds. [6][7][8][9] While the number of different approaches is large, the basic material almost always stays the same. Other carbon nitride materials, that exhibit very similar properties, are often overlooked due to a more complex synthesis process or simply because they are less known.…”

Synthesis, Characterization and Application of V2O5/S‐Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanocomposite for Removing of Organic Pollutants

“…It has been shown that by doping small amounts of certain heteroatoms on the surface of carbon nitride, yield of photocatalytic activity was increased . The bare graphitic carbon nitride has a low efficiency compared to the doped one because of better light absorption as well as photocatalytic activities .…”