g-C3N4/carbon dot-based nanocomposites serve as efficacious photocatalysts for environmental purification and energy generation: A review

Most recently, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has emerged as one of the desirable stable organic polymers, owing to its diverse applications as a semiconducting photocatalyst in photoreduction of CO2, water splitting, and elimination of various contaminants. In these regards, a series of modifications have been made in this semiconductor using carbon dots (CDs) to increase its efficiency in these photocatalytic processes, because of its fast recombination of the photoinduced charges, low specific surface area, and poor harvesting of visible light. This review highlights the applied protocols to ameliorate the photoactivity of g-C3N4/CDs-based nanocomposites through combining with various materials. This work shows that in addition to the charge effects, textural and morphological changes in g-C3N4 are also observed by coupling with CDs to change the bulk characteristics and extend its applications. This review can provide beneficial information about profundity realizing the versatile role of CDs in boosting photocatalytic ability of g-C3N4-based systems. The ultimate goal of this review can be both a tutorial to fundamental photocatalysis and a critical comment on the most recent progress in utilization of g-C3N4/CDs-based photocatalysts in different areas. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.