A critical review on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based materials: Preparation, modification and environmental application

• Published in: Coordination chemistry reviews Vol. 453; p. 214338
• Main Authors: Wang, Jianlong, Wang, Shizong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.02.2022
• Subjects: Carbon nitride; Disinfectant; Environmental application; Modification; Disinfectant; Modification; Environmental application; Carbon nitride
• ISSN: 0010-8545; 1873-3840
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2021.214338

•Recent advances in g-C3N4 composites were systematically analyzed and summarized.•Their preparation, characterization, and modification were discussed.•Various applications of g-C3N4 in environmental applications were summarized.•Some concluding remarks and suggestion for future works were proposed. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based materials have received extensive attention due to their unique characteristics, such as optical properties, high chemical stability, facile synthesis. In this review, the recent advances in g-C3N4 composites were systematically analyzed and summarized, including preparation, characterization, modification, and environmental application, particularly focusing on the modification mechanisms and environmental applications. Firstly, the preparation methods of g-C3N4 on the basis of pyrolysis were introduced. Then, the characterization techniques for determining the structure of g-C3N4 and the corresponding specific parameters, such as X diffraction angle and C-N binding energy were briefly introduced. Thirdly, various modification methods of g-C3N4 were discussed. Fourthly, the diverse applications of g-C3N4 in the field of environmental remediation were summarized in detail, such as photo-catalyst, Fenton-like catalyst, adsorbent, and disinfectant. Finally, the concluding remarks and perspectives were made for further study. This review will deepen the understanding of the state of the art of g-C3N4, including the preparation, characterization, modification and environmental application.