Recent advances in Carbon-nitride based advance materials: Synthesis, characterization and Photo-electrochemical Energy Application: Key Challenges and Prospects

Carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) as a carbon-based low-cost material have received considerable research interest owing to their versatility as a low-cost material, with little bandgap, high chemical and thermal stability, suitable valence and conduction band, and environmentally benign synthesis, which makes it most promising candidates for energy conversion application. However, some major issue i.e., low surface area, weak absorption of light, and quick photogenerated charges recombination, restrict its potential application in energy conversion application. However, this review is intended to compile the data regarding material structural properties, different spectroscopic, modification strategies, to improve its photocatalytic activity, which has never been addressed in literature. Therefore, this review firstly provides recent developments to prepare the g-C₃N₄, their different tactics (i.e., amino, nitrogen and carbon vacancies), bandgap engineering, photosensitizers, plasmonic and up-conversion materials. Furthermore, different methods, including computational, elemental and microscopic characterization, are described in detail. In addition, physico-chemical properties of g-C₃N₄ and different fabrication strategies are also evaluated, which have never been addressed in literature. Furthermore, we carefully evaluated the photoexcitation mechanisms, different structural factor and optimization methodologies to fabricate the cutting-edge photoreactive g-C₃N₄, based photocatalyst. Moreover, previously obtained g-C₃N₄, based material and their comparison and potential applications in wide range of energy conversion field, have been discussed in detail. Finally, the key challenges and prospects for the proper design and development of tailored based g-C₃N₄ have also been suggested. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.