Defects controlling, elements doping, and crystallinity improving triple-strategy modified carbon nitride for efficient photocatalytic diclofenac degradation and H2O2 production

Abstract

The development of an effective dual-function photocatalyst for refractory contaminant abatement and sacrificial-free in-situ H2O2 generation is a major challenge. Herein, defects controlling, elements doping, and crystallinity improving triple-strategy is established to synthesize modified g-C3N4 (SCBCN0.4). The triple-strategy of modification reconciles crystallinity improvement and the decoration of moderate cyano-group defects and B and O co-dopants. Characterization experiments and theoretical calculations reveal microstructure and electronic structure optimization, improved light-harvesting capability, and enhanced carrier separation efficiency. SCBCN0.4 performs admirably in the degradation of diclofenac and a variety of other pharmaceuticals. Through synchronous oxygen reduction and water oxidation processes, SCBCN0.4 has an excellent in-situ photocatalytic H2O2 generation rate of 620 μmol/g/h (309 μmol/g/h without sacrificial agents). SCBCN0.4's detoxification, reusability, and stability were validated in several experiments. Hence, this research offers a ground-breaking approach to manufacturing triple-strategy modified g-C3N4 for environmental remediation and (sacrificial-free) in-situ H2O2 production.