Graphitic　carbon　nitride　was　synthesized　by　direct　thermal　polymerization　of　ammonium　thiocyanate　as　the　precursor.　The　transfer　of　this　simple　thermal-induced　polymerization　onto　hard-templates　with　various　nanoarchitectures　enables　the　fabrication　of　nanostructured　carbon　nitrides　via　a　soft-chemical　synthesis,　while　the　involvement　of　a　sulfur　species　within　the　reaction　cascade　offers　additional　chemical　control　of　the　texture　and　the　electronic　structures.　The　catalysts　were　subjected　to　several　characterizations,　and　the　results　obtained　revealed　that　nanoporous　carbon　nitrides　can　be　obtained　by　templating　with　nanosized　silica　and　SBA-15.　Photocatalytic　activity　was　evaluated　toward　hydrogen　evolution　from　proton　solution　with　visible　light.　Results　show　that　g-C3N4　synthesized　from　ammonium　thiocyanate　exhibited　improved　photoactivity　in　comparison　with　g-C3N4　obtained　from　dicyandiamide.　Further　improvement　in　the　activity　was　achieved　by　creating　the　nanostructures　in　g-C3N4.　This　is　due　to　the　enhanced　surface　area　obtained　which　is　favorable　for　light-harvesting　and　mass-transfer,　as　well　as　to　the　increased　redox　potential.　©　2011　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.