Abstract
In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and niobium pentoxide nanofibers (Nb2O5 NFs) heterojunction was prepared by means of a direct electrospinning approach combined with calcination process. The characterizations confirmed a well-defined morphology of the g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterojunction in which Nb2O5 NFs were tightly attached onto g-C3N4 nanosheets. Compared to pure g-C3N4 and Nb2O5 NFs, the as-prepared g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterojunction exhibited remarkably enhanced photocatalytic activity for degradation of rhodamine B and phenol under visible light irradiation. The enhanced catalytic activity was attributed predominantly to the synergistic effect between g-C3N4 sheets and Nb2O5 NFs, which promoted the transferring of carriers and prohibited their recombination, confirmed by the measurement of transient photocurrent responses and photoluminescence spectra. In addition, the active species trapping experiments indicated that superoxide radical anion (·O2–) and hole (h+) were the major active species contributing to the photocatalytic process. With its high efficacy and ease of preparation, g-C3N4/Nb2O5 heterojunction has great potentials for applications in treatment of organic pollutants and conversion of solar energy.
Highlights
In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and niobium pentoxide nanofibers (Nb2O5 NFs) heterojunction was prepared by means of a direct electrospinning approach combined with calcination process
Most of these studies were based on powder-form N b2O5, which was prepared by complicated means such as solvothermal method, chemical precipitation method, et al These conventional preparation methods may lead to agglomeration of Nb2O5 nanoparticles and reduce the photocatalytic activity
We developed a g-C3N4/Nb2O5 nanofibers heterojunction via a simple electrospinning technique, which exhibited a photocatalytic activity superior to the pure g-C3N4 and electrospun N b2O5 NFs
Summary
Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and niobium pentoxide nanofibers (Nb2O5 NFs) heterojunction was prepared by means of a direct electrospinning approach combined with calcination process. Many g-C3N4/ Nb2O5 heterojunction photocatalysts have been successfully prepared to enhance photocatalytic activity for pollutants degradation due to the well match of band gap edges between Nb2O5 and g-C3N4, which facilitates the charge carrier separation and improves the photocatalytic performance.
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