Triazine-based graphitic carbon nitride: controllable synthesis and enhanced cataluminescent sensing for formic acid.

A novel preparation method of triazine-based graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) and its application in the cataluminescence (CTL) sensing system is proposed in the present work. Netty triazine-based g-CN were synthesized via a solid and mild strategy, utilizing the copolymerization interaction between guanidine hydrochloride and trimesic acid. The chemical structure, morphology, optical property, and cataluminescence (CTL) sensing characteristics were investigated in detail. Control experiments were carried out to investigate the CTL sensing characteristics of g-CN towards formic acid, which showed the prepared triazine-based g-CN possessed a superior catalytic activity than that of tri-s-triazine. Meanwhile, the prepared g-CN also showed commendable catalytic oxidization selectivity towards formic acid. In view of the advantageous features of low cost, environment friendliness, and long-term stability, triazine-based g-CN was chosen as a highly efficient material to design a CTL sensor for formic acid. Graphical abstract Netty triazine-based g-CN were synthesized via a novel solid and mild strategy, utilizing the copolymerization interaction between guanidine hydrochloride and trimesic acid. Meanwhile, the prepared g-CN also showed commendable catalytic oxidization selectivity towards formic acid. Compared to most CTL sensing materials (metal and metal oxides), g-CN were metal free, low cost, and environmentally friendly; therefore, triazine-based g-CN could be used as a highly efficient CTL sensing material to detect formic acid.