Effect of synthesis approaches on morphology-driven photocatalytic activity for GCN

In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) was synthesized using pyrolysis, hydrothermal, and electrochemical methods to evaluate the impact of synthesis on structural, morphological, and photocatalytic properties. Characterization techniques revealed that the synthesis route significantly influences crystallinity, surface area, and porosity, affecting photocatalytic performance. Pyrolysis produced dense nanofibers with low surface area (0.98 m 2 /g), and hydrothermal treatment yielded disordered sheets with moderate area (1.62 m 2 /g). At the same time, electrochemical synthesis resulted in highly exfoliated nanosheets with the highest surface area (5.34 m 2 /g) and mesoporosity. These features enabled the electrochemical sample (gCN El) to achieve the highest degradation efficiency for Methylene Blue (95 %) and Rhodamine B (94 %) within 120 min, with superior rate constants (2.58 × 10 −2 s −1 and 2.35 × 10 −2 s −1 , respectively). The results demonstrate that the synthesis strategy critically determines the physicochemical features and photocatalytic efficiency of g-C₃N₄, with electrochemical synthesis offering the most promising route for high-performance catalysts. • g-C₃N₄ synthesized via pyrolysis, hydrothermal, and electrochemical methods. • The electrochemical route yielded highly exfoliated nanosheets with mesoporosity. • Morphology strongly influenced crystallinity, surface area, and photocatalysis. • gCN@El showed >94 % dye degradation with the highest rate constants in 120 min. • Tailored synthesis enables high-performance g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts.