Semiconductor polymeric graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) photocatalysts have attracted dramatically growing attention in the field of the visible-light-induced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) because of their facile synthesis, easy functionalization, attractive electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability and photocatalytic activity. This review article presents a panorama of the latest advancements in the rational design and development of g-C₃N₄ and g-C₃N₄-based composite photocatalysts for HER application. Concretely, the review starts with the development history, synthetic strategy, electronic structure and physicochemical characteristics of g-C₃N₄ materials, followed by the rational design and engineering of various nanostructured g-C₃N₄ (e.g. thinner, highly crystalline, doped, and porous g-C₃N₄) photocatalysts for HER application. Then a series of highly efficient g-C₃N₄ (e.g., metal/g-C₃N₄, semiconductor/g-C₃N₄, metal organic framework/g-C₃N₄, carbon/g-C₃N₄, conducting polymer/g-C₃N₄, sensitizer/g-C₃N₄) composite photocatalysts are exemplified. Lastly, this review provides a comprehensive summary and outlook on the major challenges, opportunities, and inspiring perspectives for future research in this hot area on the basis of pioneering works. It is believed that the emerging g-C₃N₄-based photocatalysts will act as the “holy grail” for highly efficient photocatalytic HER under visible-light irradiation.

Ag-based nanoparticles (NPs) catalysts have recently attracted increasing attention in NaBH₄-assisted nitrophenol reduction, especially in 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) reduction. Moreover, Ag-based NPs catalysts are considered to be very promising for practical applications because of their fascinating advantages, e.g., easy preparation, relatively low cost and less toxicity, high activity and good stability. Basically, the size and shape of Ag NPs are well known as the key factors for achieving highly efficient catalytic reduction of 4-NP. In this review, three highly efficient Ag-based NPs catalysts (supported Ag NPs, anisotropic Ag NPs and bimetallic Ag NPs) are highlighted for the 4-NP reduction, including the catalytic mechanism and reaction rate caused by their adjustments in size and shape. Although high catalytic activity has been demonstrated by several Ag-based NPs catalysts, further improvement in the catalytic performance is still desired. In terms of the most recent progress in Ag-based NPs catalysts for 4-NP reduction, this review provides a comprehensive assessment on the material selection, synthesis and catalytic characterizations of these catalysts. Moreover, this review aims to correlate the catalytic performance of Ag-based NPs catalysts with their size and shape, guiding the development of novel cost-effective and high-performance catalysts.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has garnered significant attention in recent years, but the standalone application of PTT still faces limitations that hinder its ability to achieve optimal therapeutic outcomes. Nitric oxide (NO), being one of the most extensively studied gaseous molecules, presents itself as a promising complementary candidate for PTT. In response, various nanosystems have been developed to enable the simultaneous utilization of PTT and NO‐mediated gas therapy (GT), with the integration of photothermal agents (PTAs) and thermally‐sensitive NO donors being the prevailing approach. This combination seeks to leverage the synergistic effects of PTT and GT while mitigating the potential risks associated with gas toxicity through the use of a single laser irradiation. Furthermore, additional internal or external stimuli have been employed to trigger NO release when combined with different types of PTAs, thereby further enhancing therapeutic efficacy. This comprehensive review aims to summarize recent advancements in NO gas‐assisted cancer photothermal treatment. It commences by providing an overview of various types of NO donors and precursors, including those sensitive to photothermal, light, ultrasound, reactive oxygen species, and glutathione. These NO donors and precursors are discussed in the context of dual‐modal PTT/GT. Subsequently, the incorporation of other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy (CHT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), alkyl radical therapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy (IT) in the creation of triple‐modal therapeutic nanoplatforms is presented. The review further explores tetra‐modal therapies, such as PTT/GT/CHT/PDT, PTT/GT/CHT/chemodynamic therapy (CDT), PTT/GT/PDT/IT, PTT/GT/starvation therapy (ST)/IT, PTT/GT/Ca²⁺ overload/IT, PTT/GT/ferroptosis (FT)/IT, and PTT/GT/CDT/IT. Finally, potential challenges and future perspectives concerning these novel paradigms are discussed. This comprehensive review is anticipated to serve as a valuable resource for future studies focused on the development of innovative photothermal/NO‐based cancer nanotheranostics.

Exploring a nanotheranostic agent with image guided highly efficient therapeutic properties is greatly significant for tumor screening and treatment. Herein, we construct a novel nanoplatform, composed of low cost bovine serum albumin (BSA), sulfonamides (SAs) and iron porphyrin nanoscale metal organic frameworks (NMOFs), which possesses the capability of active targeting to tumor cells and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used to guide synergetic photodynamic/photothermal therapy. These constructed BSA/SAs–NMOF nanoplatforms can be accumulated more at tumor sites due to modification of the nanoparticles with BSA/SA complexes, allowing this system to achieve long circulation in vivo and to actively target to carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX of tumor cells by the SAs. Moreover, the magnetic iron ion and porphyrin serve as the metal centre and organic ligand of novel NMOFs which exhibit a T₁–T₂ weighted MRI effect (r₁ = 2.7 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹ and r₂ = 19.68 mM⁻¹ s⁻¹) and allow synergetic photodynamic/photothermal therapy of tumors. In vitro reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection and photothermal temperature change results revealed that these BSA/SAs–NMOF nanoplatforms could exhibit a great PDT effect in tumor cells, even under hypoxic conditions, and a remarkable PTT effect with a photothermal conversion efficiency of 40.53%. What's more, there was a greater fatality rate of 4T1 cancer cells in the single wavelength induced PDT & PTT group (95%) than in the PDT or PTT monotherapy groups (nearly 80%), and the growth of a solid tumor was more effectively inhibited by PDT & PTT than by single PTT or PDT. This work provides a novel nanoplatform for targeting tumor hypoxia and achieved highly efficient treatment of tumors based on PDT and PTT.