TiO2/g-C3N4 nanosheets hybrid photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation

Abstract

The nanosheets TiO2/g-C3N4 hybrid material with efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity was prepared by a facile solvothermal method. The as-prepared TiO2/g-C3N4 nanosheets composite was thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. As evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue under visible light irradiation, TiO2/g-C3N4 hybrid composites exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity than pristine g-C3N4 and TiO2, respectively. The significant enhancement in photodegradation activity over the TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst can be ascribed to the combined effects of the nanosheet structure and subsequent efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers. A tentative mechanism for the photodegradation process was proposed.