A review of the current status of graphitic carbon nitride

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become an important material because of its attractive optoelectronic properties. It has been applied in various fields such as photovoltaics, biosensing, and photocatalysis. As an analog of graphene, it has layers which can be transformed into different morphologies including nanosheets, nanotubes, and quantum dots. Pristine g-C3N4 exhibits a low specific surface area and a high rate of recombination of photogenerated charges. Therefore, modification is required in order to improve its properties, for instance, by doping it with other atoms and transforming it into another morphology. In this review, the synthesis, modifications, and applications of g-C3N4 are evaluated. The use of theoretical strategies to understand various properties of g-C3N4 and its composites is highlighted. Moreover, the current status on the application of g-C3N4 is explored. Ultimately, this review will shed more light on the uses and modifications of g-C3N4 for future applications.