Unravelling the state-of-the-art for g-C3N4-coordinated composites: an emerging paradigm to combat metallic degradation

Abstract

The corrosion continues to be a pervasive and acute challenge across industries, triggering severe economic leverages exceeding US $2.5 trillion annually. In the quest to cope up with the sustainable goals there has been active research delving into high-performance, and eco-conscious corrosion mitigation strategies. In this regard, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄)-based coordinated composites have emerged as a transformative class of materials. To unravel the state-of-the-art for g-C₃N₄-based coordinated composites, this review expounds upon the multifaceted advancements in these g-C₃N₄-coordinated systems tailored for corrosion inhibition applications. Through an integrated and in-depth analysis, the review addresses the g-C₃N₄′s unique electronic configuration, tunable nitrogen-rich framework and its ability to coordinate with metal ions, nanostructures, and functional moieties to yield superior protective coatings. Electrochemical and gravimetric analyses reveal the corrosion mitigation efficacies surpassing over 95 % with the R_ct values of over 10⁶ Ω.cm². The discussion further delineates the role of g-C₃N₄ in altering the charge-transfer dynamics and interfacial electron behaviour, specifically under light-assisted or photoelectrochemical ambient. This review culminates with a pioneering perspective on contemporary challenges, scalability bottlenecks, along with futuristic trends shaping the industrial transition of g-C₃N₄-based corrosion inhibitors, underscoring their potential as next-generation intelligent coating materials in corrosion science.