Structure couture and appraisal of catalytic activity of carbon nitride (g-C3N4) based materials towards sustainability

Nowadays, the modern scientific and industrial communities demand inexpensive, energy efficient, green and sustainable catalytic approaches. In this regard, polymeric graphitic carbon nitride materials (g-C3N4), a two-dimensional (2D) graphite-like structure, has drawn immense attention in organic synthesis as a metal-free heterogeneous catalyst. Unlike traditional carbon-based materials and corrosive and hazardous catalyst, g-C3N4 has high catalytic activity, high stability, narrow band gap, non-toxic, easy structure, easy preparation, nitrogen-rich carbon and specific tunable properties with various metals. In recent years, graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are extensively applied in numerous organic transformations like reduction reaction, C–C bond formation, C–H activation reaction, oxidation reaction, hydrogenation of alkenes and alkynes, cyclization reaction and epoxidation etc. Furthermore, Due to the narrow band gap, g-C3N4 absorbed light in visible region. That’s why g-C3N4 showed good photocatalytic properties and widely used in many reactions as photocatalyst. In general, g-C3N4 can employ as a support for catalysts, a cover to protect catalysts, or the catalytic center itself. This review summarizes a number green and sustainable “dream reactions” catalyzed by g–C3N4–based materials followed by critical comments and possible solutions. This review offers key information to the catalysis society about the g–C3N4–based materials in sustainable catalysis.