An instant, biocompatible and biodegradable high-performance graphitic carbon nitride

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) shows promise in photocatalysis and optoelectronics.
• Limited solubility and chemical inertness hinder g-C₃N₄ applications, especially in biomedicine.
• Enhanced solubility and biocompatibility are crucial for advancing g-C₃N₄ nanosheet development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a facile method for preparing highly soluble and biocompatible g-C₃N₄ nanosheets.
• To investigate the structural and property enhancements induced by a novel synthesis approach.
• To evaluate the photocatalytic performance of the modified g-C₃N₄ materials.

Main Methods:

• One-step thermal polymerization using ammonium bisulfate (NH₄HSO₄) as an adjuvant.
• Characterization of the resulting mesoporous g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (g-C₃N₄ NSs-4).
• Assessment of solubility, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and photocatalytic activity.

Main Results:

• The synthesis yielded fast-soluble, mesoporous g-C₃N₄ nanosheets with improved biocompatibility and partial biodegradability.
• Enriched surface hydrophilic groups (-NH₂ and -OH) and disulfide bonds contributed to solubility and biodegradability.
• NH₄HSO₄ acted as O/S source and bubbling agent, creating porosity, increasing surface area, and enhancing charge separation.
• The modified g-C₃N₄ exhibited superior visible-light photocatalytic activity.

Conclusions:

• A facile, economic, and general strategy for fabricating mesoporous, soluble, and biocompatible g-C₃N₄ was established.
• The enhanced properties make these g-C₃N₄ nanosheets highly promising for environmental, energy, and biomedical applications.
• The developed material offers a viable solution to the limitations of traditional g-C₃N₄.