Synthesis of porous g-C3N4/La and enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of phenol under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Journal of solid state chemistry Vol. 230; pp. 126 - 134
• Main Authors: Rong, Xinshan, Qiu, Fengxian, Rong, Jian, Yan, Jie, Zhao, Hao, Zhu, Xiaolu, Yang, Dongya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2015
• Subjects: PGCN/La; Phenol; Photocatalytic activity; Porous g-C3N4; Visible-light irradiation; Porous g-C3N4; Photocatalytic activity; Phenol; Visible-light irradiation; PGCN/La
• ISSN: 0022-4596; 1095-726X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2015.07.003

A series of porous g-C3N4/La (PGCN/La) materials used as photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol were prepared by two steps. The photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), thermogravimetry (TG), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). From the TEM morphology, the porous structure of g-C3N4 could be successfully controlled; from BET results, BET specific surface area of porous g-C3N4 (PGCN) sample increases with the increasing of urea mass ratio. Compared with PGCN material (PGCN-50), PGCN/La sample (PGCN-50/La-5) could exhibit an enhanced photocatalytic activity and has the best degradation efficiency of 98.6% within 50min under visible light irradiation. Photocatalytic reaction follows the first-order model kinetics; and PGCN-50/La-5 photocatalyst shows the largest reaction rate among all samples which is nearly 2.96 times higher than that of pure PGCN-50. The present work illustrates that the photocatalytic activity of porous g-C3N4 was improved by the addition of La and PGCN-50/La-5 has potential application in the removal of phenol or other organic molecular from wastewater. Porous g-C3N4/La photocatalyst is synthesized and its removal of phenol application has been explored. [Display omitted] •Porous PGCN/La photocatalyst was prepared successfully by hydrothermal method.•PGCN/La has a highest degradation efficiency of 98.6% for phenol within 50min.•The reaction rate of is nearly 2.96 times higher than that of pure PGCN.•As prepared material has potential application in removal of phenol from wastewater.