Acidification of La doped C3N4 for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline

Abstract

In this study, the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4 is improved by doping lanthanum and hydrochloric acid acidification. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, ICP, SEM, BET and UV vis DRS. From the SEM and BET results, it can be seen that both doping lanthanum and hydrochloric acid acidification can affect the microstructure of the sample to a certain extent, resulting in a larger specific surface area of the sample. According to UV–vis DRS, it can be determined that the doping of lanthanum and hydrochloric acid acidification have to some extent reduces the band gap of the sample, reduces the recombination rate of electron-hole pair in the sample, makes the photocatalytic process more likely to occur, and improves the photocatalytic performance. Compared with g-C3N4, g-C3N4/La samples have stronger photocatalytic performance, with a 2-hour photocatalytic degradation rate of 95.54 % for tetracycline in g-C3N4/La-400. Based on this, acidification of the sample can further improve its performance, and the 2-hour photocatalytic degradation rate of tetracycline in g-C3N4/La-HCl4 can reach 99.40 %. This study indicates that the doping of lanthanum and hydrochloric acid acidification treatment can improve the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4. g-C3N4/La-HCl4 has certain application prospects in the degradation of tetracycline and other macromolecular organic compounds.