Pd nanocones supported on g-C3N4: An efficient photocatalyst for boosting catalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium under visible-light irradiation

• Published in: Applied surface science 2019-03, Vol.471, p.935-942
• Main Authors: Wu, Jia-Hong, Shao, Fang-Qi, Luo, Xiao-Qian, Xu, Hao-Jie, Wang, Ai-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Graphitic carbon nitride; Hexavalent chromium reduction; Palladium nanocones; Photocatalysis; Poly-l-lysine
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2018.12.075

[Display omitted] •Pd nanocones were synthesized by a facile PLL-mediated hydrothermal method.•Pd nanocones/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was obtained via simple ultrasonication.•The nanocomposite was used for efficient catalytic reduction of Cr(VI) under visible-light irradiation.•Pd nanocones played important roles in the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). Herein, a facile poly-l-lysine (PLL)-mediated one-pot hydrothermal approach was developed for large-scaled synthesis of Pd nanocones enclosed by the {1 1 1} facets, followed by uniformly dispersing them on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The Pd nanocones/g-C3N4 demonstrated dramatic enhancement for photocatalytic transformation of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) via the dehydrogenation pathway under visible-light irradiation, which outperforms the {1 0 0} facets enclosed Pd nanocubes/g-C3N4, Pd black/g-C3N4, and bare g-C3N4 catalysts. Meanwhile, the as-prepared nanocomposite showed dramatically enhanced conversion up to 99.9% and improved reusable ability via the recycling test. It would advance the development of largely efficient g-C3N4 supported Pd nanocatalysts via morphology- and composition-engineering.