Molecular engineering of carbon nitride towards photocatalytic H2 evolution and dye degradation

• Published in: Journal of colloid and interface science 2021-09, Vol.597, p.39-47
• Main Authors: Hayat, Asif, Shaishta, Naghma, Uddin, Ikram, Khan, Muhammad, Mane, Sunil Kumar Baburao, Hayat, Ashiq, Ullah, Ikram, Ur rehman, Ata, Ali, Tariq, Manjunatha, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 2,6-dimethylmorpholine (MP); Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN); Hydrogen evolution rate (HER); Pollutant degradation
• ISSN: 0021-9797; 1095-7103
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2021.03.159

We integrate a potential conjugated donor-acceptor (DA) co-monomer such as 2, 6-dimethylmarpholine (MP) within the structure of polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) by a facile one-pot co-polymerization process. The hydrogen evolution rate (HER) for pure CNU with 115.2 μmol/h while for CN-MP0.1 it was estimated at 641.2 μmol/h which remarkably fueled almost six times more than blank sample. In particular, the pseudo-order kinetic constant of CN-MP0.1 for photodegradation of RhB was two times higher as compared with pure CNU. [Display omitted] •A facile ionothermal co-polymerization method was used to introduce MP, an organic monomer into PCN.•The integration of MP by DFT and TD-DFT shows a change in its surface area, electronic structure and band gap.•An six-time improved HER was observed for CN-MP0.1 (641.2 μmol/h) than pure PCN (115.2 μmol/h).•Pseudo-order kinetic constant of CN-MP0.1 for photodegradation of RhB was two times higher as compared with pure PCN. The development of superior heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogen (H2) evolution is a significant feature and challenging for determining the energy and environmental crises. However, the dumping of numerous lethal colorants (dye) as of textile manufacturing has fascinated widespread devotion-aimed water pollution anticipation and treatment. In this regard, a photocatalytic H2 evolution by visible light using low-dimensional semiconducting materials having pollutant degradable capacity for Rhodamine B dyes (RhB) has been anticipated as a route towards environmental aspect. Here we fabricated the incorporation of organic electron-rich heterocyclic monomer 2,6-dimethylmorpholine (MP), inside electron-poor graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) semiconductor by solid-state co-polymerization. The supremacy of copolymerization process was successfully examined via absorbent, calculated band gap, and migration of electrons on the photocatalytic performance of as-constructed CN-MP copolymer. The density functional theory (DFT) calculation provides extra support as evident for the successful integration of MP into the g-CN framework by this means-reduced band gap upon co-polymerization. The hydrogen evolution rate (HER) for g-CN was found as 115.2 μmol/h, whereas for CN-PM0.1was estimated at 641.2 μmol/h (six times higher). In particular, the pseudo-order kinetic constant of CN-MP0.1 for photodegradation of RhB was two times higher than that ofg-CN. Results show an important step toward tailor-designed and explain the vit