Metal-doped carbon nitrides: synthesis, structure and applications

Metal doping is a common strategy for the regulation of the structure of carbon nitride materials at the molecular level. A wide range of intriguing applications of metal-doped carbon nitride (M-CN) materials have recently been investigated from the mainstream of photocatalysis to other emerging fields, including electrocatalysis, organic synthesis, biosensors, and nanozymes. From a fundamental point of view, M-CN is an essential branch of carbon nitride materials and opens a new avenue for the preparation of single-atom catalysts and even endows the materials with new exciting properties. In particular, M-N x structures as active sites in numerous M-CN materials have been widely demonstrated using both experiments and theoretical calculations. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art preparation methods, characterization techniques, and diverse applications of M-CN. Finally, future perspectives on the fabrication and application prospects of M-CN materials are discussed. This perspective provides a comprehensive overview of the latest progress of M-CN, which would promote further development, such as for single-atom catalysis and nanozymatic reactions.