Element engineering in graphitic carbon nitride photocatalysts

Photocatalytic energy conversion is widely considered as a promising energy conversion method for solving the energy crisis, while efficient energy conversion has long been pursued by researchers. Among the strategies for improving energy conversion, element engineering, comprising doping and vacancies, has attracted extensive attention as a convenient and effective modification method. Focusing on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), this review elaborated the mechanism of element engineering in the g-C3N4 photocatalytic process and summarized the fabrication strategies for doping and vacancy. Furthermore, this review listed the applications of g-C3N4 with element engineering in photocatalysis and described the prospects for its development. It is expected that this review could not only deepen the comprehension of element engineering but also open up inspirations and feasibilities for the design and application of g–C3N4–based materials.