The g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanosheets Separated by PS for Photocatalytic Degradation of Dye

Abstract

Polymerization of styrene (St) stabilized by graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets, containing hydrophobic conjugated structure and hydrophilic oxygen-containing functional groups, is conducted at varying styrene concentration. It is found that the morphology of polystyrene (PS)/g-C3N4 nanocomposites tends to transform from g-C3N4 nanosheets coated PS nanospheres to g-C3N4 nanosheets separated by PS with irregular morphology by further increasing the concentration of St. The strong interaction between PS and g-C3N4 nanosheets, suggesting by FT-IR, XRD patterns and UV–vis spectra results, and the amount of St are responsible for the structure and morphology of the final product. The g-C3N4 nanosheets separated by PS exhibit the highest photocatalytic efficiencies towards degradation of methylene blue (MB), due to the specific structure and morphology. The PS separates g-C3N4 nanosheets, obstructs the aggregates of g-C3N4 nanosheets. On the other hand, the PS as a collector gathers the MB, which is benefit for the close contact between g-C3N4 nanosheets and MB, achieving the collective effect to greatly increase the photocatalytic efficiency.