Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a New Sustainable Photocatalyst for Textile Functionalization

• Main Authors: Jelena Vasiljević, Ivan Jerman, Barbara Simončič
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: Polymers
• Subjects: graphitic carbon nitride; textile; fibres; functionalization; surface and bulk modification; photocatalytic activity
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/15/2568

As a promising organic semiconducting material, polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has attracted much attention due to its excellent optical and photoelectrochemical properties, thermal stability, chemical inertness, nontoxicity, abundance, and low cost. Its advantageous visible light-induced photocatalytic activity has already been beneficially used in the fields of environmental remediation, biological applications, healthcare, energy conversion and storage, and fuel production. Despite the recognized potential of g-C₃N₄, there is still a knowledge gap in the application of g-C₃N₄ in the field of textiles, with no published reviews on the g-C₃N₄-functionalization of textile materials. Therefore, this review article aims to provide a critical overview of recent advances in the surface and bulk modification of textile fibres by g-C₃N₄ and its composites to tailor photocatalytic self-cleaning, antibacterial, and flame retardant properties as well as to create a textile catalytic platform for water disinfection, the removal of various organic pollutants from water, and selective organic transformations. This paper highlights the possibilities of producing g-C₃N₄-functionalized textile substrates and suggests some future prospects for this research area.