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Carbon Nitride Gels: Synthesis, Modification, and Water Decontamination Applications
Qinglan Tang1,2, Zhen Zhang1, Yuwei Pan3
1College of Safety and Environmental Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266590, China.
Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 26, 2025
Summary
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) gels offer advanced environmental remediation solutions. These 3D porous materials overcome powder limitations for efficient water purification and desalination.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) shows promise for environmental remediation due to its electronic structure, metal-free nature, and stability.
- Powdered g-C3N4 suffers from aggregation, poor recyclability, and limited active site exposure, hindering practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in g-C3N4-based hydrogels and aerogels for environmental applications.
- To explore synthesis strategies, modification approaches, and performance optimization of these gel materials.
Main Methods:
- Overview of synthesis techniques including crosslinking, in situ polymerization, sol-gel, and template methods.
- Categorization of modification strategies focusing on chemical composition and structural engineering.
- Evaluation of structure-property relationships for enhanced catalytic activity and stability.
Main Results:
- g-C3N4-based gels provide high surface area, efficient mass transport, and tunable porosity, addressing limitations of powdered forms.
- Modified gels demonstrate improved performance in removing emerging contaminants and heavy metals.
- Applications extend to solar-driven interfacial evaporation for desalination.
Conclusions:
- g-C3N4-based hydrogels and aerogels are effective platforms for environmental remediation, particularly water purification.
- Further research is needed to address challenges in scalable synthesis, long-term stability, and mechanistic understanding for real-world applications.
