Effect of molten-salt modulation on the composition and structure of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), as an attractive metal-free polymer photocatalyst, has attracted extensive attention in energy and environmental fields in recent years. The photoactivity of bulk g-C₃N₄ is moderate on account of solid-phase thermal-condensation synthesis. This leads to inadequate light absorption, limited surface area, and easy recombination of charge carriers. The composition and nanostructure of g-C₃N₄ have been studied extensively. Molten-salt modulation is fascinating because of its “green” credentials and the properties of liquid-phase reaction systems. The review focuses mainly on molten-salt modulation of the composition and structure of g-C₃N₄ based-photocatalysts. We focus on elemental doping, molecular doping, and defect engineering, as well as control of the crystal structure, multi-dimensional structure, hom/heterostructures for photocatalytic applications. This review provides new insights to develop g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts with control of composition and structure by facile molten-salt modulation in energy-conversion and environmental fields.