Simulated Solar Light Responsive Carbon Nitride/TiO2 Nanofiber Heterojunction Photocatalyst: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance

Abstract

A carbon nitride/TiO2 nanofiber heterojunction photocatalyst that is responsive to simulated solar light is prepared by a simple self‐assembly method. X‐ray diffraction (XRD), UV–vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to characterize the prepared catalysts. The results indicate that the TiO2 nanofiber is coated by the g‐C3N4 sheet to form a core/shell structure, which is favorable for the fast interfacial charge transfer and separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. The activity and stability of carbon nitride/TiO2 nanofiber heterojunction photocatalyst are tested in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated solar light. The rate constant of TiNF(0.3)‐CN is found to be 0.044 min−1, which is 4 and 2.2 times higher than that of single TiO2 nanofiber and g‐C3N4 , respectively. A possible mechanism is proposed.