Abstract
This study reports a fast and green preparative strategy to synthesize water soluble and fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) through hydrothermal method by using low cost organic waste of human fingernails as the carbon precursor for the first time. The coupling of CQD with pure carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was further explored to enhance the latter’s performance in photocatalysis of 2,4-dicholorophenol (2,4-DCP), a toxic and recalcitrant compound mostly released from industrial effluent. Such coupling overcame the weakness of pure g-C3N4 in photocatalysis process by broadening its visible light absorption and promoting the charge separation. As a result, the removal rate of CQD/ g-C3N4(10) was up to 71.53%, which was approximately 1.5 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4 under sunlight irradiation. The morphological structure, optical properties and chemical compositions of CQDs/g-C3N4 composites were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques including field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) and Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS).
Highlights
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemical compound which might disrupt the endocrine system, eventually causing harmful effects in an intact organism [1]
The rate of degradation of the 2,4-DCP solution aided by various photocatalyst samples was monitored for 2 h. 0.1g of carbon quantum dots (CQDs)/g-C3N4 was added with 250 mL aqueous solutions for 2,4-DCP in a beaker
In order to identify the elemental composition of CQD/g-C3N4 composites, Energy Dispersive XRay (EDX) was carried out to confirm the presence of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O) in CQD/gC3N4(15) composite
Summary
Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemical compound which might disrupt the endocrine system, eventually causing harmful effects in an intact organism [1]. A study reported that the composite of C60 monomer and g-C3N4 matrix was able to degrade Methylene blue dye solution within 3 h [7]. Another successful attempt on CQD-modified g-C3N4 hybrid shown 3 fold higher photodegradation rate compared to that of pure g-C3N4 [8]. To counter the problem of short light absorption spectra and rapid recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs of pure g-C3N4, carbon quantum dot was coupled with pure g-C3N4 to modify as well as improving the latter’s weaknesses. The photoactivity of fingernail derived carbon dots/g-C3N4 nanocomposites was evaluated by degradation of 2,4-DCP solution under sunlight irradiation
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