Fluorescent graphene-like carbon nitrides: synthesis, properties and applications

Fluorescent graphene-like carbon nitrides (FL GCNs) are emerging as a new kind of graphene-like two-dimensional (2D) layered nanomaterials in bioimaging, sensing, drug delivery, cancer therapy, photocatalysis, solar energy and optoelectronic devices, owing to their excellent optoelectronic properties, high specific surface areas, good biocompatibility and low toxicity. In this review, we firstly introduced the synthetic methods for FL GCNs such as the ''top-down'' and ''bottom-up'' strategies, followed by systematically addressing the unique properties of FL GCNs. Then, the current applications of FL GCNs were discussed in detail, and finally an outlook on their possible and potential developments was roughly described.