Objective The use of fossil fuels poses a significant threat to the earth's climate and energy. To mitigate environmental pollution, address climate change, and conserve earth's energy resources, there is an urgent need to develop renewable green energy generation technologies.

Method Hydrogen energy is a zero-carbon emission clean energy source. Photocatalytic hydrogen production technology driven by inexhaustible sunlight was regarded as a green energy generation technology, which has the dual application potential of reducing carbon emissions and meeting energy needs. High-activity photocatalysts were the core of research in photocatalytic hydrogen production technology.

Result The paper focuses on recent research progress on hydrogen production made on graphitic nitrogen carbide (g-C₃N₄) photocatalysts, and discusses the structure, synthesis, advantages, disadvantages, and modification strategies of g-C₃N₄ photocatalysts. The methods of heterojunction construction based on metal oxides, metal sulfides, oxometallates, metal-organic framework materials and g-C₃N₄ and their hydrogen production properties and mechanisms are analyzed.

Conclusion The hydrogen production properties of g-C₃N₄ heterojunction photocatalysts are summarized and prospected in order to provide some reference for the future hydrogen energy construction direction.