Converting　the　low-density　solar　energy　into　the　high-density　chemical　energy　or　realizing　the　direct　degradation　of　organic　pollutants　by　photocatalytic　technology　is　one　of　the　important　ways　to　solve　the　problem　of　energy　shortage　and　environmental　pollution.　Carbon　nitride　is　a　polymeric　semiconductor　photocatalyst　that　shows　important　applications　in　water　splitting,　pollutant　degradation,　CO2　reduction　and　selective　organic　synthesis.　Supramolecular　self-assembly　of　precursors　is　one　of　the　important　synthetic　methods　of　highly-effective　nanostructured　carbon　nitride　photocatalyst.　Carbon　nitride　nanomaterials　can　be　prepared　by　thermal　polymerization　of　the　ordered　supramolecular　aggregation　formed　by　hydrogen　bond　interaction　between　the　precursors　of　melamine　and　triazine　derivative.　By　controlling　the　reaction　parameters　and　conditions　of　self-assembly　process,　the　composition,　morphology,　band　structure,　optical　property,　and　electron-hole　separation　efficiency　of　carbon　nitride　can　be　effectively　tailored,　thus　improving　the　photocatalytic　activity　of　carbon　nitride.　Herein,　the　latest　research　progress　concerning　the　supramolecular　self-assembly　synthesis　of　carbon　nitride　photocatalysts　is　reviewed.　The　work　of　nanostructured　carbon　nitride　photocatalyst　is　summarized,　including　copolymerization　modified　carbon　nitride,　nonmetal　doped　carbon　nitride,　metal　doped　carbon　nitride,　metal　oxide　and　carbon　nitride　composite,　carbon　nitride　based　heterojunction,　and　highly　crystalline　carbon　nitride　photocatalyst.　The　effect　of　supramolecular　self-assembly　method　on　the　composition,　structure,　and　photocatalytic　activity　of　the　carbon　nitride　is　also　illustrated.　The　future　development　direction　of　this　field　is　indicated.　©　2017,　The　Editorial　Board　of　Materials　China.　All　right　reserved.