Recent advances in functional mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) polymers

Abstract

Mesoporous micro-/nanostructures acting as supports for catalysts or used directly in catalysis reactions generally show fascinating performances that could lead to great potential for application. In the past few decades, extensive efforts have been devoted to the exploration and enrichment of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based research. Especially, mesoporous g-C3N4 (mpg-C3N4) with controllable porosity and electronic/atomic structure can bring to bear unique physicochemical properties and has been widely applied in the fields of photocatalysis, adsorbents, sensors and chemical templates. However, a comprehensive summary on mpg-C3N4 micro/nanostructures is less reported and there is an urgent need to further promote the development of function-oriented mpg-C3N4-based materials. Herein, we will overview the significant advances in functional mpg-C3N4 polymers, including general synthesis strategies and growth mechanisms, modifications of electronic/atomic structures and interfacial properties (such as exfoliation, doping and hybridizing), as well as their current applications. Finally, several emerging issues and perspectives are also proposed.