Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)-based photocatalytic materials for hydrogen evolution

The semiconductors, such as TiO 2 , CdS, ZnO, BiVO 4 , graphene, produce good applications in photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production, and great progress have been made in the synthesis and modification of the materials. As a two-dimensional layered structure material, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ), with the unique properties of high thermostability and chemical inertness, excellent semiconductive ability, affords good potential in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, the related low efficiency of g-C 3 N 4 with fast recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers, limited visible-light absorption, and low surface area of prepared bulk g-C 3 N 4 , has called out the challenge issues to synthesize and modify novel g-C 3 N 4 -block photocatalyst. In this review, we have summarized several strategies to improve the photocatalytic performance of pristine g-C 3 N 4 such as pH, morphology control, doping with metal or non-metal elements, metal deposition, constructing a heterojunction or homojunction, dye-sensitization, and so forth. The performances for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and possible development of g-C 3 N 4 materials are shared with the researchers interested in the relevant fields hereinto.