Crystalline Carbon Nitride Semiconductors for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Conjugated carbon nitride (CN) is an emerging and promising semiconductor photocatalyst for water photolysis owing to its unique properties. However, the traditional thermally induced polymerization of N-containing precursors typically produces melon-based CN solids with amorphous or semi-crystalline structures with only moderate photocatalytic performance. Many strategies have been developed to prepare crystalline CNs (CCNs), such as high-temperature and high-pressure routes, ionothermal synthesis, and microwave-assisted synthesis. In this Minireview, we summarize the progress that has been made in the synthesis of CCNs and their application in photocatalytic water splitting reactions. Three kinds of CCNs are mainly discussed according to their polymeric subunits. Challenges associated with CCNs and their future development are also included.