Rational Construction ZnO@C3N4 Composite with Enhanced Photocorrosion‐Resistance for Simultaneous Removal of RhB‐MO Mixed Pollutants

Abstract

AbstractA series of ZnO@C3N4 composites with excellent photocorrosion‐resistant and photocatalytic activity were prepared by using one‐pot calcination synthesis for the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater. Compared with ZnO and C3N4, ZnO@C3N4 presented the excellent photocatalytic performance for RhB, MO, DBP and RhB‐MO mixed systems under UV conditions. The degradation rate constants of 70ZnO@30 C3N4 for RhB and DBP were 7.66 and 4.71 times higher than those of ZnO, respectively. For RhB‐MO mixed systems, the rate constant was 4.65 times higher than that of RhB alone. XRD and FTIR analyses indicated a strong phase interaction between two components of ZnO@C3N4 composites. XPS results confirmed the formation of ZnO/C3N4 heterojunction. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the highly efficient catalytic performance of ZnO@C3N4 composites in the degradation of organic pollutants were also analyzed. It can be attributed to the fact that a tight contact at the interface and well‐matched band edge position between ZnO and C3N4 can effectively separate and transfer photoinduced carriers for organic pollutant degradation, rather than react with ZnO itself. This study clearly demonstrates a simple way to fabricate ZnO@C3N4 with photocorrosion‐resistant and to apply them for the removal of multi‐component organic pollutants from wastewater by photocatalysis.