Recent advances in the use of graphitic carbon nitride-based composites for the electrochemical detection of hazardous contaminants

•Discussed on the GCN composite electrode materials for the electrochemical on-site detection of hazardous constituents.•Recent advances in GCN-based composites for the electrochemical detection of hazardous contaminants are reviewed.•Details are provided for electrochemical performance enhancements achieved by nanoengineering and doping.•The unique electrocatalytic activities of GCN-based composites as potential electrochemical sensing platforms are described.