Tailored Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanostructures: Synthesis, Modification, and Sensing Applications

Various beneficial properties of graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) have been discovered during the promotion of its visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity for water splitting. These properties enable g-CN working as a sensing signal transducer with multiple output modes. In this review, state-of-the-art sensing applications of tailored g-CN nanostructures in the recent years are presented. Initially, g-CN nanoarchitectures featuring large surface areas, abundance of active sites, and high dispersity in water are presented along with their preparation methods. Then, sensing applications of these g-CN nanoarchitectures are described in sequence of the immobilization of recognition elements; semiconductor and electron donating properties derive signaling transduction modes, and efficient approaches for improving sensing performances. The review is concluded with a summary and some perspectives on the challenges and future possibilities of this research field.