Br-doping of g-C3N4 towards enhanced photocatalytic performance in Cr(VI) reduction

Semiconductor photocatalytic technology is widely recognized as one of the most promising technologies to solve current energy and environmental crisis, due to its ability to make effective use of solar energy. In recent years, graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a new type of non-metallic polymer sem...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inChinese journal of catalysis Vol. 41; no. 10; pp. 1498 - 1510
Main Authors Wang, Mian, Zeng, Yubin, Dong, Guohui, Wang, Chuanyi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.10.2020
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Summary:Semiconductor photocatalytic technology is widely recognized as one of the most promising technologies to solve current energy and environmental crisis, due to its ability to make effective use of solar energy. In recent years, graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4), a new type of non-metallic polymer semiconductor photocatalyst, has rapidly become the focus of intense research in the field of photocatalysis because of its suitable bandgap energy, unique structure, and excellent chemical stability. In order to improve its intrinsic shortages of small specific surface area, narrow visible light response range, high electron-hole pair recombination rate, and low photon quantum efficiency, a simple method was utilized to synthesize Br-doped g-C3N4 (CN–BrX, X = 5, 10, 20, 30), where X is a percentage mole ratio of NH4Br to melamine. Experimental results showed that Br atoms were doped into the g-C3N4 lattice by replacing the bonded N atoms in the form of C–N=C, while the derived material retained the original framework of g-C3N4. The interaction of Br element with the g-C3N4 skeleton not only broadened the visible-light response of g-C3N4 to 800 nm with an adjustable band gap, but also greatly promoted the separation efficiency of the photogenerated charge carrier and the surface area. The photocurrent intensity of bare CN and CN–BrX (X = 5, 10, 20, 30) catalysts is calculated to be 1.5, 2.0, 3.1, 6.5, and 1.9 μA, respectively. And their specific surface area is measured to be 9.086, 9.326, 15.137, 13.397, and 6.932 m2/g. As a result, this Br-doped g-C3N4 gives significantly enhanced photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI), achieving a twice enhancement over g-C3N4, with high stability during prolonged photocatalytic operation compared to bare g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, an underlying photocatalytic reduction mechanism was proposed based on control experiments using radical scavengers. Br-doped g-C3N4 exhibits improved photocatalytic activity for Cr(VI) reduction under visible light irradiation. The Br element was intercalated into g-C3N4 to form C-Br bonds, and photogenerated e−,•OH, and H2O2 play important roles in Cr(VI) reduction.
ISSN:1872-2067
1872-2067
DOI:10.1016/S1872-2067(19)63435-2