Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Research Articles

RSM and ANN methodologies in modeling the enhanced biodiesel production using novel protic ionic liquid anchored on g-C3N4@Fe3O4 nanohybrid

Herin, a new nanohybrid acid catalyst was fabricated for the efficient biodiesel production. At the first, magnetic porous nanosheets of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4@Fe3O4) was prepared and then functionalized with sulfonic acid. Next, the preparation of the catalyst was completed by mixing this surface modified support with n-methyl imidazolium butyl sulfonate zwitterion to achieve non-covalent immobilized acidic ionic liquid on g-C3N4@Fe3O4 support. The catalyst underwent characterization through various techniques such as 1H and 13C NMR, FTIR, SEM, TEM, TGA, EDX and BET which revealing that the magnetic support loaded acidic ionic liquids via a robust charge interaction effect enabling the one-pot production of biodiesel from low-quality oils. Furthermore, the catalyst could be simply recovered using a permanent magnet and reused multiple times without a significant decline in catalytic activity. Consequently, the solid catalyst based on ionic liquids holds promise for the sustainable and eco-friendly production of biodiesel from low-quality oils. Furthermore, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) were used to model the yield and various process parameters. The findings underscore the enhanced predictive capabilities of ANN in comparison to RSM.

Synergistic effect of light in piezocatalytic activation of peroxymonosulfate using graphtic carbon nitride nanosheets for degradation of organic pollutants

The objective of the study was to understand the photo-piezocatalytic response of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Methylene blue (MB) dye was targeted by PMS activation using CNNS under ultrasonic-assisted piezocatalysis and photo-piezocatalysis in a batch reactor for 120 min. CNNS has shown 98.4% MB removal within 120 min in a batch study (PMS = 200 mg L-1, CNNS = 1 g L-1, ultrasonicator = 40 kHz, UV-A light = 250 W). CNNS (0.0157 min-1) showed 1.3 times higher photo-piezocatalytic activity compared to bulk graphitic carbon nitride (CNB) for PMS activation due to improvement in in-plane polarization. In the photo-piezocatalytic CNNS/PMS/MB system, a scavenging study revealed that the primary contributors for MB removal were hydroxyl radical (.OH) and sulfate radical (SO4.-). The piezoelectric effect combined with light at CNNS improved the excitation of charge carriers, followed by charge carrier separation due to band tilting. Finally, the effects of CNNS dose, PMS dose, and competitive anions were studied for MB removal using CNNS under photo-piezocatalysis. Overall, CNNS is a promising photo-piezocatalyst for the removal of emerging organic pollutants through PMS activation.

Zinc oxide-modified graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as stable electrode material for supercapacitor applications

Zinc oxide-modified graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as stable electrode material for supercapacitor applications

Advancing Hematite Photoanodes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: The Impact of g‐C3N4 Supported Ni‐CoP on Photogenerated Hole Dynamics

AbstractThe increasing demand for clean hydrogen necessitates the rapid development of efficient photoanodes to catalyze the water oxidation half‐reaction effectively. Here a strategy is introduced to fabricate photoanodes that synergistically combine and leverage the properties of porous Ti‐doped hematite (Ti‐Fe2O3) and graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanosheets anchored with in situ grown Ni‐doped CoP co‐catalyst (Ni‐CoP). The resulting hybrid photoanodes exhibit >7 times higher photocurrent density at +1.23 VRHE compared with Ti‐Fe2O3 photoanodes. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including ambient photoemission spectroscopy, intensity‐modulated photocurrent spectroscopy, and transient absorption spectroscopy complementarily reveal the key impact of g‐C3N4 in these composites with enhanced solar oxygen evolution reaction: The incorporation of g‐C3N4 leads to enhanced charge separation through a type‐II heterojunction, thereby increasing the hole flux at the surface, and extending the charge carrier lifetime to the ms‐s range needed for water oxidation. Additionally, g‐C3N4 facilitates efficient transfer of photogenerated holes to the fine Ni‐CoP nanoparticles confined in the graphitic matrix for a boosted oxygen evolution reaction. These findings highlight the advantages of complex heterostructure photoanodes and demonstrate a new application of g‐C3N4 as a multifunctional support of co‐catalysts for future photoanodes with enhanced performance.

Studying the Efficacy of Copper Oxide Loaded Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets on VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis in Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM Assay) In Vivo Studies and Cytotoxicity in Human Hep3B Liver Cancer Cell Lines

Studying the Efficacy of Copper Oxide Loaded Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets on VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis in Chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM Assay) In Vivo Studies and Cytotoxicity in Human Hep3B Liver Cancer Cell Lines

Enhanced H2 Generation via Piezoelectric Reforming of Waste Sugars and Fruits Using Au-Decorated g-C3N4

The food industry is responsible for generating considerable amounts of waste, such as excess fruits and leftover sugars, which contribute to resource depletion and pose environmental challenges. This research delves into the application of gold-modified graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (Au/CN) as a potent catalyst for the transformation of these food wastes into H2 via piezoelectric reforming during sonication. Au/CN demonstrated a superior rate of H2 evolution compared to pristine g-C3N4 (i.e., 1533.3 vs. 364.9 µmol/g/h) and it maintained its efficiency through multiple cycles of use. The catalytic activity was found to be optimal at a neutral pH level and with increased sugar concentrations. The enhanced catalytic performance of Au/CN was ascribed to the efficient segregation of charge carriers as well as the reduced charge transfer distance. This study underscores the viability of using Au/CN as a means for converting food wastes into a sustainable source of H2 energy.

Nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dot as electron acceptor anchored on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet for improving rhodamine B degradation

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) hold significant promise for wastewater treatment because of their remarkable attributes, including robust stability, outstanding biocompatibility, minimal toxicity, superior water dispersibility, cost-effective production, and exceptional photo-stability.In this study, CQDs were synthesized using microplasma and tested for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) (5 mg/L) under different conditions, with a Solar simulator and UVA illumination. Specifically, graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (NCN) in conjugation with carbon quantum dots (NCN@CQD) were prepared with different amounts of CQD. The synthesized CQD, NCN, and NCN@CQD underwent characterization using various compositional and structural analytical techniques. The results show that nitrogen species were effectively incorporated into the CQDs framework and CQDs are anchored on NCN forming NCN@CQD successfully. Subsequently, all samples were then investigated in degrading Rhodamin B, RhB, to assess the photocatalytic activity. The results reveal that the presence of CQDs substantially improved the photocatalytic efficiency of NCN. Specifically, the CQDs anchored on NCN exhibited a substantial enhancement in the photoactivity for RhB decomposition under a solar light simulator, surpassing that of pure NCN. The amount of CQD in the NCN@CQD sample exerted a strong influence on the photocatalytic activity. All NCN@CQD samples exhibited remarkable enhancements in both adsorption and photocatalytic performance compared to pure CQD and NCN samples. In an optimization study, a best NCN@CQ photocatalyst was identified, showing a 40 % enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency compared to the use of NCN alone. A visible light photocatalytic activity of 91 % can be attained within 150 min, exhibiting a reaction rate constant of 0.0135 min−1 toward RhB decomposition, which was double as for the individual NCN (0.0067 min−1). The boosted photocatalytic activity resulting from the synergistic effect between NCNs and CQDs can be attributed to the efficient function of CQD as an electron acceptor. The proposed mechanism of photocatalytic degradation of RhB is illustrated in detail.

Magnetic soft centirobot to mitigate biological threats

AbstractSoft robots have drawn a lot of interest in the field of human–robot interfaces because they can mimic the propulsion of soft bodies and archive complex tasks that cannot be made by rigid robots such as performing the complex motion, avoiding collisions by absorbing impacts, and shape adaptation by elastic deformation. Herein, drawing inspiration from creatures in the Cambrian period, such as Hallucigenia, we develop a centimeter‐sized soft robot with multiple magnetic legs (referred to as a soft centirobot). This robot is equipped with graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) nanosheets to kill biological threats by photogenerated reactive oxygen species under black light illumination. The motion of g‐C3N4 soft centirobot is controlled by magnetic actuation even in complex wastewater samples (with a relative speed of 0.12 body lengths per second). The magnetic multilegs work as a propeller to walk across and cover large regions, and water disinfection is more efficient than what could be achieved by nano/micrometer scale sheets of g‐C3N4. Finally, factors affecting the accelerated propulsion of g‐C3N4 soft centirobot such as design principle, structure geometry, body mass, driving mechanism, and magnetic sensitivity, have been investigated. We envision that such a photoactive 2D material‐based integrated centimeter‐sized robot shall find application in many areas where pathogen removal is required.

Switchable metal extractant integrated miniaturized 3D-printed device: A semi-online multi-metal separation system for matrix-free ICP-MS analysis

BackgroundThis study tackles the critical challenges in metal analysis by presenting an innovative miniaturized metal extraction device prototype. This device features a functional nanocomposite (FNC) enhanced 3D-printed polylactic acid (PLA) metal extractant (FNC@3D PLA). The research is motivated by the constraints of traditional solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods, specifically their limitations in handling competitive metal ion environments and matrix interference during inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis. The designed prototype aims to overcome these challenges and enhance the extraction efficiency of diverse metals. ResultsThe FNC, designed to incorporate various functional groups critical for metal ion extraction efficiency, was meticulously engineered through the reaction of acid-treated and delaminated graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (Thiol-gCN NSs) with 3-mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The competitive metal ion extraction efficiency of FNC@3D PLA was demonstrated, showcasing notable limit of detection values of 3.2 ± 0.7 ng mL−1 and 8.57 ± 3.05 ng mL−1 for Cu and Ag, respectively. Furthermore, the miniaturized 3D-printed metal-preconcentration setup incorporating FNC@3D PLA exhibited favorable intraday relative standard deviation (RSD) percentage (%) values ranging from 1.23 to 8.6 for both Cu and Ag. Interday RSD % between 1.41 and 8.14 were observed under spiked real urine sample conditions. The sustainability and robustness of the proposed approach were underscored by substantial recovery % values exhibited by FNC@3D PLA, even after eight consecutive regeneration processes. SignificanceThis study significantly contributes to the advancement of analytical methodologies by providing a reliable and efficient platform for metal extraction and preconcentration in practical metal analysis applications. Developed FNC@3D PLA system demonstrates its potential to address the challenges associated with SPE in metal analysis, especially in complex sample matrices. We believe implications of this research can be extended to various fields, from environmental monitoring to clinical diagnostics, where accurate and reliable metal analysis is paramount.

A magnetically fixed bifunctional monomer molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor for specifically identifying thiabendazole in food

A magnetically fixed bifunctional monomer molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor (MIP/MMOF@g-C3N4/L-Aas/MGCE) was constructed to selective detection thiabendazole (TBZ). Fe3O4 modified by sulfonic acid group (–SO3H) acted as magnetic core to attract Co2+ to initiate the growth of ZIF-67 (MMOF). Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C3N4) were doped into MMOF by inherent amino groups to prepare integrated magnetic ECL luminophore (MMOF@g-C3N4). MMOF@g-C3N4 was immobilized on the surface of magnetic glassy carbon electrode (MGCE) by using the superparamagnetism of Fe3O4, which enhanced the stability and reusability of ECL system. Sodium ascorbate (L-Aas) acted as co-reactant accelerators to further enhance ECL intensity. MIP prepared with TBZ as template molecule and o-phenylenediamine (oPD)/resorcinol (RS) as bifunctional monomers contained more imprinting sites, which can enhance the adsorption performance. The luminescence mechanism of magnetic ECL system was investigated, and the specific recognition mechanism of MIP recognition system was deeply explored. The linear range of the method was 1 × 10−9–5 × 10−5 mol L−1, and the detection limit was 3.77 × 10−10 mol L−1. A good recovery rate (80.08%–96.82%) was obtained in the actual sample detection, which was basically consistent with the detection results of High Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Electrochemically assisted preparation of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet membranes for efficient water purification

The development of a highly effective nanofiltration membrane for water purification is crucial for wastewater recovery. The graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) membrane can be an ideal candidate for advanced water treatment due to its intrinsic porous structure and superior physicochemical stability. However, the developments of the g-C3N4 membranes are limited by their traditional preparation methods involving complicated processes, long reaction time and high-temperature conditions. A simple electrochemical-assisted strategy for the rapid preparation of the g-C3N4 nanosheet membranes at room temperature has been developed in this study. The ultra-thin g-C3N4 membrane with a uniform structure can be synthesized within 40 min, which is at least 7 times quicker compared to the traditional methods. The as-prepared g-C3N4 membrane shows a high water flux rate of ∼ 90 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. Simultaneously, an excellent rejection rate of 99.1% toward Evans blue is achieved based on the synergistic effect of size sieving and electrostatic repulsion. The breakthrough in the preparation method of g-C3N4 nanosheet membranes in this work is of great significance to the development of g-C3N4 membranes in the field of water purification.

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet and ferroelectric PbTiO3 nanoplates S-scheme heterostructure for enhancing hydrogen production and textile dye degradation

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a reliable photocatalyst that can be activated by visible light. However, its photocatalytic efficiencies are hindered by the rapid recombination of charge carriers on its surface. A hybrid photocatalyst consisting of a ferroelectric PbTiO3 nanoplate/g-C3N4 S-scheme heterojunction was synthesized using an ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal method, to overcome the aforementioned limitation. The PbTiO3 nanoplates incorporated into the g-C3N4 matrix created a strong electric field, resulting in superior photocatalytic activities. This improvement can be attributed to the efficient separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. The hybrid photocatalyst (10PTCN) exhibits an impressive H2 evolution rate (1587.82 µmol.g−1.h−1) under simulated solar irradiation. The hybrid photocatalysts demonstrated 99.40 % methylene blue (30 mg·L−1) in 90 min under simulated solar irradiation with remarkable reusability. This work contributes to enhancing the understanding of utilizing ferroelectric 2D nanoplates to develop efficient charge transfer schemes for improved photocatalysts.

Construction of Phosphorus‐Doped g‐C3N4 Nanosheets and Activation of Sodium Percarbonate for Degradation of Organic Pollutants in Wastewater

AbstractA novel phosphorus‐doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (PS‐CN) photocatalyst was prepared by thermal polycondensation and thermal stripping method, and its physicochemical properties were characterized. The results show that PS‐CN formed a thin sheet and multi‐cavity structure by thermal delamination that could enhance the surface area, light reception, and adsorption capacity. The prepared PS‐CN activated sodium percarbonate system (PS‐CN/SPC) was developed for the degradation of dyeing wastewater with methylene blue (MB) as the target pollutant and the degradation mechanism was analyzed. At room temperature (20 °C), the degradation rate of MB in PS‐CN/SPC system within 10 min (88.13 %) was three times that of pure g‐C3N4. In addition, the MB was completely degraded under visible light within 60 min. Moreover, PS‐CN exhibited excellent reusability that the degradation rates of MB have remained above 96 % in five consecutive cycles. The free radical quenching experiments showed that hole (h+), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and superoxide radical (•O2−) all participated in MB degradation, and •OH was the main active species. The PS‐CN/SPC system would provide a high‐value solution for the treatment of dye wastewater due to the low cost of raw materials, superior photocatalytic activity, simple synthesis method, and reusability of the catalyst.

Fabrication of DDP-functionalized carbon nitride nanosheets via thiol-ene “click” reaction as lubricant additives

Herein, the functionalized graphite carbon nitride (DDP@g-C3N4) nanosheets were successfully prepared via the surface self-assembly method combined with “click” reaction. Firstly, the 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl acrylate (TOPA) was self-assembled onto the g-C3N4 surface to obtain TOPA@g-C3N4, then the dialkyl dithiophosphate (DDP) was grafted onto TOPA@g-C3N4 via thiol-ene “click” reaction formation of DDP@g-C3N4. The load-carrying capacity of PAO10 is increased to 900 N from 200 N with 1.5 wt% DDP@g-C3N4 addition, and the average COF decreased from 0.17 to 0.10, accompanied by a 96.7 % decrease in wear volume. This improved lubricating performance is attributed to the formation of a continuous protective film including iron oxides, iron sulfide, and iron phosphate via tribochemical reactions, which prevent direct contact and seizure between friction pairs.

Machine learning-enhanced drug testing for simultaneous morphine and methadone detection in urinary biofluids

The simultaneous identification of drugs has considerable difficulties due to the intricate interplay of analytes and the interference present in biological matrices. In this study, we introduce an innovative electrochemical sensor that overcomes these hurdles, enabling the precise and simultaneous determination of morphine (MOR), methadone (MET), and uric acid (UA) in urine samples. The sensor harnesses the strategically adapted carbon nanotubes (CNT) modified with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets to ensure exceptional precision and sensitivity for the targeted analytes. Through systematic optimization of pivotal parameters, we attained accurate and quantitative measurements of the analytes within intricate matrices employing the fast Fourier transform (FFT) voltammetry technique. The sensor’s performance was validated using 17 training and 12 test solutions, employing the widely acclaimed machine learning method, partial least squares (PLS), for predictive modeling. The root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSECV) values for morphine, methadone, and uric acid were significantly low, measuring 0.1827 µM, 0.1951 µM, and 0.1584 µM, respectively, with corresponding root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values of 0.1925 µM, 0.2035 µM, and 0.1659 µM. These results showcased the robust resiliency and reliability of our predictive model. Our sensor’s efficacy in real urine samples was demonstrated by the narrow range of relative standard deviation (RSD) values, ranging from 3.71 to 5.26%, and recovery percentages from 96 to 106%. This performance underscores the potential of the sensor for practical and clinical applications, offering precise measurements even in complex and variable biological matrices. The successful integration of g-C3N4-CNT nanocomposites and the robust PLS method has driven the evolution of sophisticated electrochemical sensors, initiating a transformative era in drug analysis.

Graphitic Carbon Nitride as a Metal‐Free Heterogeneous Semiconductor Photocatalyst for Fluoroalkylation Reactions

AbstractThe increasing use of fluorine‐containing bioactive molecules necessitates efficient strategies for fluorinated group installation. Despite the impressive development of photoinduced radical fluoroalkylation as a powerful tool for introducing fluorine, the persistent issues, including the recyclability and reaction specificity of homogeneous photocatalysts, still leave great room for further advancement in a sustainable and general fashion. Herein, we report a conceptually different approach toward multiple types of fluoroalkylations by using recoverable and versatile graphitic carbon nitride (g‐CN) nanosheets as a heterogeneous photocatalyst. This photocatalytic system enables diverse intermolecular fluoroalkylations of alkenes with fluoroalkanesulfinates and intramolecular fluoroalkyl migrations of alkenyl triflates. Detailed characterizations and mechanism studies substantiate the stability of this organic semiconductor and the crucial role of photogenerated electron‐hole pairs.

Intercalated PtCo Electrocatalyst of Vanadium Metal Oxide Increases Charge Density to Facilitate Hydrogen Evolution.

Efforts to develop high-performance electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are of utmost importance in ensuring sustainable hydrogen production. The controllable fabrication of inexpensive, durable, and high-efficient HER catalysts still remains a great challenge. Herein, we introduce a universal strategy aiming to achieve rapid synthesis of highly active hydrogen evolution catalysts using a controllable hydrogen insertion method and solvothermal process. Hydrogen vanadium bronze HxV2O5 was obtained through controlling the ethanol reaction rate in the oxidization process of hydrogen peroxide. Subsequently, the intermetallic PtCoVO supported on two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets was prepared by a solvothermal method at the oil/water interface. In terms of HER performance, PtCoVO/g-C3N4 demonstrates superior characteristics compared to PtCo/g-C3N4 and PtCoV/g-C3N4. This superiority can be attributed to the notable influence of oxygen vacancies in HxV2O5 on the electrical properties of the catalyst. By adjusting the relative proportions of metal atoms in the PtCoVO/g-C3N4 nanomaterials, the PtCoVO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites show significant HER overpotential of η10 = 92 mV, a Tafel slope of 65.21 mV dec-1, and outstanding stability (a continuous test lasting 48 h). The nanoarchitecture of a g-C3N4-supported PtCoVO nanoalloy catalyst exhibits exceptional resistance to nanoparticle migration and corrosion, owing to the strong interaction between the metal nanoparticles and the g-C3N4 support. Pt, Co, and V simultaneous doping has been shown by Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to enhance the density of states (DOS) at the Fermi level. This augmentation leads to a higher charge density and a reduction in the adsorption energy of intermediates.

Anti-fouling graphene oxide membranes intercalated with Co-anchored graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet for enhanced water purification

Membrane separation technology has been widely used in wastewater recycling. Graphene oxide (GO) membranes have been widely developed, but membrane fouling is still a serious challenge. Here, GO-based membranes intercalated with Co-anchored graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet (Co@CNN) were prepared by a vacuum-filtrated assembly strategy. The resulting GO/Co@CNN membrane with an appropriate interlayer d-spacing (0.81 nm) and loading yield (0.30 ± 0.03 mg/cm2) can effectively separate methyl blue (MB) with a flux of 66.9 ± 2.7 L m-2h−1 under 1 bar, although the membrane has been fouled due to the adsorption of MB on the sample. Co@CNN can activate potassium peroxymonosulfat (PMS) to generate multiple active free radicals for the oxidation of MB via an advanced oxidation process (AOP). Therefore, the fouled membrane renews and can be employed to deal with wastewater repeatedly.

Broad-spectrum hybrid-driven triple-interface Z-Scheme 1T/2H phase sailboat-like molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)/protonated N-defect nanoporous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanosheets piezo-photocatalyst: Superior degradation and hydrogen evolution

Incorporating piezo-response into photocatalysis holds great promise for eco-friendly strategies in environmental remediation and sustainable energy conversion. Herein, flexible N-defect nanoporous g-C3N4 nanosheets (NPCNs) was prepared via one-step method, then whose surface was protonated. And existed dense 1T/2H phase and vertical interfaces in non-layer-dependent-piezo-response sailboat-like-MoS2 (Sv-MS) formed by in-situ stresses during nucleation and growth by experiments and MD-simulations. Noble-metal-free Z-scheme PC/VM heterojunction with broad-spectrum absorption, enhanced piezo-response and intimate triple-interface was established by electrostatic self-assembly, performing efficient hybrid-driven piezo-photocatalysis. With a systematic modification of morphology, grain size, phase composition, and surface condition of the components, the optimal PC(3.6H)/VM(u2) exhibited high piezo-photocatalytic rates for degradation of organic dyes and antibiotic (RhB (0.565 min-1), MO (0.052 min-1), MB (1.557 min-1), TC (0.062 min-1)) and hydrogen evolution (3528 μmolg-1h-1) under visible-light and ultrasonic-wave, with maintenance under NIR-light (λmax = 1000 nm) attributed to up-conversion effect (RhB: 0.212 min-1, H2: 2355 μmolg-1h-1). Furthermore, the piezo-photocatalytic mechanism was proposed by experiments and DFT-calculations for effective triple-interface Z-Scheme charge migration. This work provides a rational protocol for constructing diverse-energy-triggered, multiple-interfaces and broad-solar-spectrum (UV–Vis-NIR) piezo-photocatalysts in degradation and hydrogen evolution.

Enhanced hydrogen evolution and tetracycline degradation by a Z-scheme g-C3N4 nanosheets loaded CeO2 photocatalyst under visible light irradiation

In the quest to enhance photocatalytic performance, structural regulation and interface engineering stand out as effective strategies for amplifying active sites and fostering the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. In this study, a pioneering approach was employed, utilizing a straightforward two-step calcination method to prepare a novel photocatalyst: porous graphite carbon nitride (g-C3N4, CN) nanosheets (NS) loaded with mesoporous cerium oxide (CeO2/CNNS). The distinctive architecture of CeO2/CNNS not only elevates the specific surface area and catalytic active sites but also facilitates efficient mass transfer. Experimental results and density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate the existence of an internal electric field (IEF) within the Z-scheme heterojunction formed by uniformly dispersed CeO2 and CNNS. This IEF proves pivotal in promoting charge separation and migration, thereby maintaining robust redox capabilities. Under visible light irradiation, CeO2/CNNS demonstrates an impressive 4.2-fold increase in the hydrogen production rate compared to bulk g-C3N4 (BCN), coupled with a 48.5% boost in the photocatalytic degradation rate constant (k) of tetracycline (TC). This study not only unveils the innovative design of CeO2/CNNS but also paves the way for a fresh perspective on the design and preparation of multifunctional photocatalysts.