Supramolecular self-assembled graphitic carbon nitride catalyst: A comprehensive review on design principle, synthesis strategy, functionalization and application
Hao Yang, Shaodong Sun, Qing Yang, Jie Cui
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) stands out as the most promising candidate for solar energy conversion owing to its easy preparation, metal-free nature, flexible molecular structure, moderate bandgap, and excellent thermal/chemical stability. To enhance the performance of intrinsic g-CN, a supramolecular self-assembly strategy has been proposed to regulate the molecular structure of supramolecular precursors through non-covalent interactions across molecular building blocks, thereby optimizing the electronic structure of g-CN. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in supramolecular self-assembly-derived graphitic carbon nitride (SM-CN) from both experimental and theoretical computational research in synthesis strategies, including synthesis methods and influencing factors, providing a theoretical foundation for the design of supramolecular assembly. It also discusses modification strategies, such as internal modification of the conjugated plane, interlayer optimization, and construction of heterointerfaces to improve the electronic structure of SM-CN owing to its unique layered structure. This review further summarizes the applications of SM-CN in environment and energy, including wastewater treatment, sterilization and disinfection/air purification, water splitting, H 2 O 2 production, organic synthesis/biomass conversion, CO 2 reduction, photocatalytic coupling technology. Finally, perspectives and outlooks for the future development of SM-CN aim to inspire further innovation in the design and construction of high-performance SM-CN for broader applications.