The　techniques　for　the　production　of　the　environment　have　received　attention　because　of　the　increasing　air　pollution,　which　results　in　a　negative　impact　on　the　living　environment　of　mankind.　Over　the　decades,　burgeoning　interest　in　polymeric　carbon　nitride　(PCN)　based　photocatalysts　for　heterogeneous　catalysis　of　air　pollutants　has　been　witnessed,　which　is　improved　by　harvesting　visible　light,　layered/defective　structures,　functional　groups,　suitable/adjustable　band　positions,　and　existing　Lewis　basic　sites.　PCN-based　photocatalytic　air　purification　can　reduce　the　negative　impacts　of　the　emission　of　air　pollutants　and　convert　the　undesirable　and　harmful　materials　into　value-added　or　nontoxic,　or　low-toxic　chemicals.　However,　based　on　previous　reports,　the　systematic　summary　and　analysis　of　PCN-based　photocatalysts　in　the　catalytic　elimination　of　air　pollutants　have　not　been　reported.　The　research　progress　of　functional　PCN-based　composite　materials　as　photocatalysts　for　the　removal　of　air　pollutants　is　reviewed　here.　The　working　mechanisms　of　each　enhancement　modification　are　elucidated　and　discussed　on　structures　(nanostructure,　molecular　structue,　and　composite)　regarding　their　effects　on　light-absorption/utilization,　reactant　adsorption,　intermediate/product　desorption,　charge　kinetics,　and　reactive　oxygen　species　production.　Perspectives　related　to　further　challenges　and　directions　as　well　as　design　strategies　of　PCN-based　photocatalysts　in　the　heterogeneous　catalysis　of　air　pollutants　are　also　provided.　©　2021　The　Authors.　Advanced　Science　published　by　Wiley-VCH　GmbH