Synergistic photoelectrochemical reduction of Cr(VI) and oxidation of organic pollutants by g-C3N4/TiO2-NTs electrodes

Abstract

The g-C3N4/TiO2-NTs electrodes were synthesized by a dip-coating procedure followed by high-temperature annealing used in photoelectrochemical process. From the results, a simultaneous and rapid reduction of Cr(VI) and degradation of phenol in Cr(VI)/phenol system was observed with photoelectrocatalytic activity under UV–visible light irradiation than photocatalytic and electrocatalytic activities. The different kinds of Cr(VI)/organic pollutants systems were also investigated systematically. In addition, different scavengers were also added in Cr(VI)/phenol and Cr(VI)/benzyl alcohol systems to indicate that the hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radicals were the most major active species for the denomination of Cr(VI) and organic pollutants. The intermediates of phenol and benzyl alcohol were also detected during the reaction in order to deduce the photoelectrocatalysis mechanism underg-C3N4/TiO2-NTs electrodes that the charge separation was improved and subsequently electron-transfer efficiency was higher.