Conjugated Carbon Nitride as an Emerging Luminescent Material: Quantum Dots, Thin Films and Their Applications in Imaging, Sensing, Optoelectronic Devices and Photoelectrochemistry

Over the past few years, graphitic/polymeric carbon nitride (CN) has attracted widespread attention due to its interesting electronic properties, which have been exploited in various applications, including, for example, in photo- and electrocatalysis, heterogeneous catalysis, CO₂ reduction and water splitting. Its unique and tunable optical, chemical, and catalytic properties, alongside its low price and remarkably high stability to oxidation and harsh chemical environments, make it a very attractive material for optoelectronic devices as well as imaging and sensing-related applications. In this Minireview, we will focus on the optical and photophysical properties of CN films and quantum dots and their potential applications in sensors, LEDs, solar cells and other photoelectronic devices. The synthetic approaches which determine the final chemical and photophysical properties of the CN materials are thoroughly elaborated.