g-C₃N₄-Based Photocatalysts: Innovations and Prospects

Dear Colleagues,

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has revolutionized the landscape of photocatalysis since its emergence as a visible-light-active semiconductor. This metal-free material, with its unique two-dimensional structure and moderate bandgap of approximately 2.7 eV, offers an unprecedented combination of optical absorption, chemical stability, and electronic tunability. Derived from nitrogen-rich precursors through simple thermal polymerization, g-C₃N₄ embodies the principles of sustainable chemistry while delivering performance that rivals or exceeds that of many conventional metal-based photocatalysts.

The past decade has witnessed a remarkable evolution in our understanding and manipulation of this fascinating material. Beyond its initial application in water splitting, g-C₃N₄ has demonstrated exceptional versatility across diverse photocatalytic domains. Its conjugated framework facilitates efficient charge carrier generation upon visible-light illumination, while the nitrogen atoms provide coordination sites for metal single atoms and clusters, creating hybrid systems with synergistic properties. The material’s polymeric nature enables unprecedented flexibility in molecular-level engineering—from band structure modulation through elemental doping to surface functionality tailoring via copolymerization approaches.

Contemporary research has pushed beyond traditional boundaries through innovative strategies. Morphological engineering has yielded g-C₃N₄ nanostructures ranging from quantum dots to porous frameworks with dramatically enhanced surface areas and active site exposure. Heterojunction construction with other semiconductors has enabled spatial charge separation and extended light absorption ranges. Defect engineering, particularly nitrogen vacancy introduction, has emerged as a powerful tool for optimizing electronic structure and surface reactivity. These advances have propelled g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts toward practical applications in energy conversion, environmental purification, and organic synthesis.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest innovations in g-C₃N₄ photocatalysis while providing a critical perspective on future directions. We invite contributions addressing fundamental mechanistic insights, novel material design strategies, and emerging application domains.

If you would like to submit papers for publication in this Special Issue or have any questions, please contact the in-house Editor, Mr. Ives Liu (ives.liu@mdpi.com).

Dr. Sai Zhang
Guest Editor

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