Recent advances over the doped g-C3N4 in photocatalysis: A review

Abstract

The fossil fuels energy sources including natural gas, petroleum and coal are the major causes of energy and environmental-related crises. To defend the earth for upcoming generations, the prioritization of renewable energy and sustainability is crucial. To cope with these issues, numerous methodologies have been extensively employed. The most efficient and secondary pollutant-free technology for energy transformation and environmental mitigation is the use of semiconductor photocatalysis. Semiconductor photocatalysts absorb sunlight and produce electron-hole pairs which participate in redox reactions to generate reactive species such as peroxides, superoxides and hydroxide radicals. These reactive species can then drive numerous chemical reactions, making semiconductor photocatalysis a valuable technique for various applications. Thus, the development of eco-friendly and cost-effective photocatalysts capable of harnessing visible light energy and contributing to environmental remediation is highly crucial. Recently, doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) received significant interest for photocatalytic energy conversion and environmental remediation. The purpose of current review is to deliver a comprehensive overview of the up-to-date revolution in the doped g-C₃N₄ for various photocatalytic applications. This review mainly highlights the fundamentals, photocatalytic mechanisms, and factors affecting photocatalysis. Further, this review addresses the influence of metals and nonmetals doping on the performance of g-C₃N₄. Furthermore, this review emphasizes the latest advancement in the fabrication of doped g-C₃N₄ and their utilization in water splitting, photodegradation of pollutants, decontamination of bacteria, and reduction of CO₂. Finally, the challenges and future perspectives of doped g-C₃N₄-based materials for addressing energy and environmental issues are discussed.