Tailored synthesis of metal clusters modified g-C3N4 photocatalysts for energy and environmental applications

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) shows great potential for applications in environmental remediation and the development of new energy sources. This is attributable to its advantageous energy band alignment and visible light responsiveness, which can catalyze photocatalytic redox reactions. Although these advantages, g-C₃N₄ suffers from high recombination rates of photogenerated carriers and a scarcity of active sites. This review paper delves into the synergistic incorporation of metal clusters with g-C₃N₄ to mitigate these intrinsic shortcomings, thereby enhancing its redox capabilities. We, therefore, present a comprehensive classification of metal clusters and outline their modification strategies on g-C₃N₄, including heterojunction construction, elemental doping, and defect engineering. This review paper provides a thorough classification and systematic summary on various modification strategies, encompassing the current employed preparation methods and their impacts on the enhancement of photocatalyst performance. Moreover, the review paper highlights the challenges associated with metal cluster-modified g-C₃N₄ in the fields of energy (such as photocatalytic hydrogen production and carbon dioxide reduction) and the environment (including the removal of gaseous pollutants, wastewater treatment, and elimination of organic pollutants). In this review, we also put forward the challenges of modification strategies and preparation methods to enhance their application efficiency in the aforementioned areas, thereby providing direction for future research.