Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B using graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst

• Published in: Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Vol. 32; no. 11; pp. 15577 - 15585
• Main Authors: Yadav, A. A., Kang, Seok-Won, Hunge, Y. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer Science and Business Media LLC 01.06.2021; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Carbon; Carbon nitride; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Materials Science; Melamine; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Photocatalysis; Photocatalysts; Photodegradation; Photoelectrons; Pyrolysis; Rhodamine; Spectrum analysis; Valence; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-021-06106-y

In this work, a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) photocatalyst was synthesized by pyrolysis of melamine. The effect of different synthesis temperatures on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was investigated. X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopic analyses confirmed the formation of the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst. The elemental composition and valence states of the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A specific surface area of 25.45 m 2 /g was measured using the BET technique. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed that the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst exhibited good absorbance in the ultraviolet and visible regions. The photocatalytic performance of the g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was tested for the degradation of Rhodamine B under sunlight illumination.