As a fascinating conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become a new research hotspot and drawn broad interdisciplinary attention as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in the arena of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. This is due to its appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, and “earth-abundant” nature. This critical review summarizes a panorama of the latest progress related to the design and construction of pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, including (1) nanoarchitecture design of bare g-C3N4, such as hard and soft templating approaches, supramolecular preorganization assembly, exfoliation, and template-free synthesis routes, (2) functionalization of g-C3N4 at an atomic level (elemental doping) and molecular level (copolymerization), and (3) modification of g-C3N4 with well-matched energy levels of another semiconductor or a metal as a cocatalyst to form heterojunction nanostructures. The constructi...

Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4)-Based Photocatalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis and Environmental Remediation: Are We a Step Closer To Achieving Sustainability?

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.

Polymeric Photocatalysts Based on Graphitic Carbon Nitride

A review on g-C3N4-based photocatalysts

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), as an intriguing earth-abundant visible light photocatalyst, possesses a unique two-dimensional structure, excellent chemical stability and tunable electronic structure. Pure g-C3N4 suffers from rapid recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs resulting in low photocatalytic activity. Because of the unique electronic structure, the g-C3N4 could act as an eminent candidate for coupling with various functional materials to enhance the performance. According to the discrepancies in the photocatalytic mechanism and process, six primary systems of g-C3N4-based nanocomposites can be classified and summarized: namely, the g-C3N4 based metal-free heterojunction, the g-C3N4/single metal oxide (metal sulfide) heterojunction, g-C3N4/composite oxide, the g-C3N4/halide heterojunction, g-C3N4/noble metal heterostructures, and the g-C3N4 based complex system. Apart from the depiction of the fabrication methods, heterojunction structure and multifunctional application of the g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, we emphasize and elaborate on the underlying mechanisms in the photocatalytic activity enhancement of g-C3N4-based nanocomposites. The unique functions of the p–n junction (semiconductor/semiconductor heterostructures), the Schottky junction (metal/semiconductor heterostructures), the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect, photosensitization, superconductivity, etc. are utilized in the photocatalytic processes. Furthermore, the enhanced performance of g-C3N4-based nanocomposites has been widely employed in environmental and energetic applications such as photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, photocatalytic hydrogen generation, carbon dioxide reduction, disinfection, and supercapacitors. This critical review ends with a summary and some perspectives on the challenges and new directions in exploring g-C3N4-based advanced nanomaterials.

Graphitic carbon nitride based nanocomposites: a review

Engineering photocatalytic materials for renewable energy generation and environmental decontamination has always been a very exciting prospect to counter the global energy demands and pollution challenges. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ), a polymeric, metal-free semiconductor with a mild band gap (2.7 eV) has become hot-spot in various scientific exploits such as environmental pollution mitigation, energy generation and storage, organic synthesis, sensors, etc. These applications exploit the interesting properties of g-C 3 N 4 such as good visible light absorption, graphene-like structure, good thermal and chemical stability and photocatalytic properties. In this review we begin with an overview of the fundamental aspects of photocatalysis as a pollution remediation strategy. This is followed by an introduction to graphitic carbon nitride as a photocatalyst, preparation strategies and its properties. Subsequently, a comprehensive and critical discussion of the various most recent developments towards enhancing the visible light photocatalytic properties of g-C 3 N 4 for pollution alleviation, selected results and important photocatalytic degradation mechanisms, is given. Summary remarks and future perspective conclude the review.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposites: A new and exciting generation of visible light driven photocatalysts for environmental pollution remediation

A novel and simple synthetic approach toward core–shell Ag@C3N4 nanocomposites is developed. Ag@C3N4 core–shell nanostructures were formed via reflux treatment of Ag nanoparticles with graphitic C3N4 nanosheets in methanol. The core–shell hybrid photocatalysts showed dramatic photoinduced electron–hole separation efficiency and photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. The photocurrent intensity, photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) and hydrogen evolution reaction of Ag@C3N4 were about 4, 1.8 and 30 times as that of pure C3N4 sample, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity for core–shell Ag@C3N4 originated from a combined result of the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect for Ag and hybrid effect from C3N4, resulting in the coupling interaction of the enhanced light absorption intensity, high separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons–holes, longer lifetime of charge carriers and its favorable adsorptivity.

Enhancement of visible photocatalytic activity via Ag@C3N4 core–shell plasmonic composite

Performance of ferroelectric visible light type II Ag10Si4O13/TiO2 heterojunction photocatalyst

Powder-precursor integrated 3D-printed TiO2 photocatalyst and adsorption-degradation synergy effect

Ongoing researches about photocatalysts based on the response of the overall band spectrum of visible light to clean water resources have received significant attention. This study focuses on the synergistic...

/pdf/in-situ-synthesis-and-properties-of-ag-ag10si4o13-go-e4oqz2xs.pdf

In-situ Synthesis and Properties of Ag/Ag10Si4O13/GO Photocatalysts with Synergistic Effect of Plasma Resonance and Schottky Junction

3D Printed Geopolymer Adsorption Sieve for Removal of Methylene Blue and Adsorption Mechanism

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