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Z-scheme SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composite as an efficient photocatalyst for dye degradation and photocatalytic CO2 reduction
Highly efficient SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts were synthesized using simple calcination of g-C3N4 and Sn6O4(OH)4. The synthesized composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under visible light irradiation. The optimal RhB degradation rate of...
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Published in: | Solar energy materials and solar cells 2015-06, Vol.137, p.175-184 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Highly efficient SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts were synthesized using simple calcination of g-C3N4 and Sn6O4(OH)4. The synthesized composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under visible light irradiation. The optimal RhB degradation rate of the composite was 0.088min−1, which was 8.8 times higher than that of g-C3N4. The SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composite also showed high photocatalytic activity for CO2 reduction and photodegradation of other organic compounds. Various techniques including Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) and an electrochemical method were applied to determine the origin of the enhanced photoactivity of SnO2−x/g-C3N4. Results indicated that the introduction of SnO2−x on g-C3N4 increased its surface area and enhanced light absorption performance. More importantly, a hetero-junction structure was formed between SnO2−x and g-C3N4, which efficiently promoted the separation of electron–hole pairs by a direct Z-scheme mechanism to enhance the photocatalytic activity. This study might represent an important step for the conversion of solar energy using cost-efficient materials.
•Novel Z-scheme SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composites are prepared and tested.•SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composite degrades RhB 8.8 times faster than g-C3N4 under visible light.•SnO2−x/g-C3N4 composites also show high activity in photocatalytic CO2 reduction.•The Z-scheme mechanism is verified by reactive species trapping experiment. |
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ISSN: | 0927-0248 1879-3398 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.solmat.2015.01.037 |