Defect Engineered 2D Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Photochemical, (Bio)Electrochemical, and Microplastic Remediation Advancements

Abstract

The advent of atomically thin two-dimensional (2D) materials, with their distinct optical, physicochemical, and surface properties, offers a multitude of avenues for tackling environmental challenges and propelling advancements in clean energy technologies. Defect engineering emerges as a key strategy in this pursuit, enhancing the material’s effectiveness across various applications and unlocking its inherent potential. This investigation reveals the extraordinary potential of 2D graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and modified g-C₃N₄ in propelling advancements across photochemical, electrochemical, and bioelectrochemical domains, with a primary emphasis on remediation techniques for water treatment, electrode development, and microplastic removal. The material’s exceptional properties, including its structural characteristics, adsorption capabilities, and photocatalytic activity, are also leveraged. This study underscores the critical importance of g-C₃N₄ as a multifaceted solution to pressing environmental and electrochemical issues, highlighting its role as a catalyst for innovation and progress in sustainable development initiatives.