A review on g-C3N4 based photo-catalyst for clean environment

Abstract

In recent years, our mother earth is facing drastic environmental and energy crisis. To resolve this crisis, the search for suitable strategy becomes a challenge to the sciencetific community. In this aspect, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) attracts the attention because of its super hardness, low density, chemical, thermal stability and biocompatibility. Among various analogues, g-C3N4 is considered as one of the most stable allotrope in the research hotspot drawn attention as metal-free and visible light responsive photocatalyst. Moreover, g-C3N4 acts as an n-type semiconductor and unique electrical, optical, structural and physiochemical properties. This makes g-C3N4 and g-C3N4 based materials, a new class of multifunctional nano platform. The polymeric structure of g-C3N4 enables the tuning of surface of g-C3N4 at a molecular level. However it has the lowest band structure among all the seven phases of CN. These properties enable the g-C3N4, an emerging and ideal candidate for clean energy production and environmental remediation. Last but not least, this review article emphasizes on the summary and some invigorative perspective on the challenges and future directions towards the development of sustainability without environmental detriment.