Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride Research Articles

Silver chromate modified sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride microrod composites with enhanced visible-light photoactivity towards organic pollutants degradation

The elimination of pollutants from wastewater using visible-light-driven photocatalysts has been attracted more and more attentions due to their higher sunlight utilization compared to conventional ultraviolet photocatalysts. Sulfur doped g-C3N4 microrods (SCN) modified with silver chromate (Ag2CrO4) were prepared by precipitation method. Several characterization methods, such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV–Vis DRS), were applied to study the morphologies and phase structures and optical properties of as-synthesized semiconductor photocatalysts. Novelty Ag2CrO4/SCN heterostructures exhibited enhanced photodegradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation. Finest photocatalytic activity of 30%-Ag2CrO4/SCN for the degradation of MO was 5.5 and 13.5 times higher than that of single Ag2CrO4 and SCN, respectively. The design of a Z-scheme system in Ag2CrO4/SCN heterostructures promoted the photocatalytic performance through enhancing redox ability, facilitating the light absorption and promoting the charge separation.

Improved visible-light catalytic activities of novel Au/P-doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst for solar fuel production and mechanism

The noble metal decorated photocatalytic materials have received marvelous attention in recent decade owing to their exceptional applications in energy conversion and environmental remediation. Herein, we have successfully fabricated Au decorated phosphorus doped graphitic carbon nitride (Au/P-CN) photocatalyst for the first time via ionic liquid and in situ photo-reduction methods. The resultant photocatalyst exhibits significant visible-light activities for water splitting to evolve H2 and CO2 conversion to CH4. The amount of H2 evolved over Au/P-CN photocatalyst is 97 μmol, ∼12-fold enhanced compared to that of the bare CN (8 μmol). Similarly, the amount of CH4 produced over Au/P-CN photocatalyst is 24 μmol, about 6-fold enhanced compared to that of the bare CN (4 μmol). The calculated quantum efficiencies for H2 evolution and CH4 production are ∼3.60% and ∼2.83%, respectively at λ = 420 nm. The exceptional photocatalytic activities are attributed to the extended visible-light absorption and improved charge carriers separation via the dopant induced surface states and the well decorated Au nanoparticles. This work demonstrate that the Au decorated CN-based photocatalysts show promising applications in photocatalysis for water splitting to evolve H2 and CO2 conversion to CH4 under visible-light irradiation.

Interface self-assembly preparation of multi-element doped carbon nanobowls with high electrocatalysis activity for oxygen reduction reaction

Developing an efficient, stable and low cost oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst is desirable for fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Here, we have successfully prepared multi-element doped carbon nanobowls by simply mixing the porous carbon nanobowls and sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots in FeCl3 solution and subsequent high temperature treatment processes. Compared with the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst, the multi-element doped carbon nanobowls display a comparable half-wave potential of 0.82 V, much larger limiting diffusion current density (0.4–0.8 V), better methanol-tolerance and higher long-term stability for the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media. The robust three-dimensional porous structure of carbon nanobowls and multiple active centers derived from Fe, N, S and O co-doping are responsible for the excellent performance. This work suggests that such multi-element doped carbon nanobowls can be a promising alternative for Pt-based catalysts in fuel cells.

Nickel doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets and its application for dye degradation by chemical catalysis

A facile synthesis of transition metal-nickel doped graphitic carbon nitride (NiGCN) nanosheets with varying doping concentrations has been reported. X-Ray diffraction and Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopic study were performed to analyse the structural phase formation and different bonds present in the samples, whereas, field emission and transmission electron microscopic study provided the morphological information. The thermal stability of the samples was measured from the TG-DTA analysis. Photoluminescence spectroscopy was performed to elucidate the emissive property of the samples. The flat band potential of the samples was measured by Mott-Schottky analysis. First principle study was carried out to delineate the probable doping site of the Ni atom along with the effect of doping on the pure material. The samples were effectively utilized to degrade toxic methyl orange (MO) dye from water in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) without exploiting any visible light source. The plausible catalysis mechanism following a series of several chemical reactions has been discussed in details.

Ionic liquid-assisted synthesis of Br-modified g-C3N4 semiconductors with high surface area and highly porous structure for photoredox water splitting

Coping with the gradually increasing worldwide energy and environmental issues, it is urgent to develop efficient, cheap and visible-light-driven photocatalysts for hydrogen production. Here, we present a facile way to synthesize bromine doped graphitic carbon nitride (CN-BrX) with highly porous structure by using ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide) as the Br source and soft-template for the first time, which applied in hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. A systematic study is conducted on the optimization in the doping amount. The results find that the as-fabricated CN-BrX photocatalysts possess a uniform porous network with thin walls due to the release of volatile domains and decomposition of ionic liquids. The highly porous structure with the large surface area (≤150 m2/g) benefits the exposure of active sites. Moreover, the bromine modification and porous structure can narrow the band gap, enhance the transportation capability of photogenerated electrons, improve the optical and conductive properties of CN, thus contribute to an outstanding H2 evolution rate under visible light irradiation (120 μmol h−1), which is about 3.6 times higher than pure CN. This work provides a new insight for designing the novel g-C3N4 based photocatalysts for hydrogen production, CO2 conversion and environmental remediation.

Facile Synthesis of Fluorine Doped Graphitic Carbon Nitride with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity

Fluorine doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was successfully synthesized by a convenient co-polycondensation of urea and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) mixtures, and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance absorption spectra (UV-DRS), nitrogen adsorption–desorption, photoelectrochemical measurement and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. The photocatalytic activities of fluorine doped g-C3N4 samples were evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible light irradiation. The results showed that the fluorine doped g-C3N4 had a better photocatalytic activity than that of undoped g-C3N4, which was attributed to the favorable textural, optical and electronic properties derived from the fluorine atoms substituting nitrogen atoms of g-C3N4 frameworks. The photoelectrochemical measurements confirmed that the charges separation efficiency was improved by fluorine doping g-C3N4. Moreover, the tests of radical scavengers demonstrated that the holes (h[Formula: see text]) and superoxide radicals ([Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]) were the main active species for the degradation of RhB.

A simple fabrication for sulfur doped graphitic carbon nitride porous rods with excellent photocatalytic activity degrading RhB dye

Constructing special nanostructures with large surface areas and tuning the band gap by element doping are efficient strategies to enhance the photocatalytic activity of semiconductor materials. Here we combined both strategies in one material to form sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride porous rods (S-pg-C3N4) in one pot by simply pyrolysis of the melamine-trithiocyanuric acid complex with different temperatures. The samples were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and elemental analysis; nitrogen adsorption isotherms, SEM and TEM images; and UV–vis DRS and photoluminescence spectra. Characterizations showed that S-pg-C3N4 possessed porous rod structure with a larger surface area (20–52m2/g) than that of bulk g-C3N4, and the surface area of the S-pg-C3N4 samples increased with the increase of heating temperature. Meanwhile, the trace sulfur remained in the framework of g-C3N4 formed sulfur doped g-C3N4, and the visible light absorption edge of the S-pg-C3N4 was extended, corresponding to a narrowed band gap. As a result, the S-pg-C3N4 samples exhibited an enhanced physical adsorption and photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rhodamine B dye under visible light.