Defect-modified reduced graphitic carbon nitride (RCN) enhanced oxidation performance for photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac

Hydroxyl radicals (OH) have robust non-selective oxidizing properties to effectively degrade organic pollutants. However, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is restricted to directly generate OH due to its intrinsic valence band. In this study, we report a facile environmental-friendly self-modificat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Chemosphere (Oxford) 2020-11, Vol.258, p.127343-127343, Article 127343
Main Authors: Jin, Xiaoyu, Wu, Yuliang, Zhang, Qianxin, Wang, Fengliang, Chen, Ping, Liu, Haijin, Huang, Shoubin, Wu, Jianqing, Tu, Ningyu, Lv, Wenying, Liu, Guoguang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diclofenac
Hydroxyl radicals
Nitrogen vacancies
Photocatalytic
Reduced graphitic carbon nitride
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Summary:Hydroxyl radicals (OH) have robust non-selective oxidizing properties to effectively degrade organic pollutants. However, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is restricted to directly generate OH due to its intrinsic valence band. In this study, we report a facile environmental-friendly self-modification strategy to synthesize reduced graphitic carbon nitride (RCN), with nitrogen vacancies and CN functional groups. The incorporation of CN enabled to downshift the valence band level, which endowed RCN with the capacity to directly generate OH via h+. Experimental and instrumental analyses revealed the critical roles of nitrogen vacancies and CN groups in the modification of the RCN band structure to improve its visible light absorption and oxidizing capacity. With these superior properties, the RCN was significantly enhanced for the photocatalytic degradation of DCF under visible light irradiation. The self-modification strategy articulated in this study has strong potential for the creation of customized g-C3N4 band structures with enhanced oxidation performance. [Display omitted] •Reduced graphitic carbon nitride (RCN) was synthesized through a facile self-modification strategy.•The downshifted valence band endowed RCN with the capacity to directly generate OH via h+.•RCN exhibited increased photocatalytic activity in the degradation of DCF.•A new insight for creation of a customized g-C3N4 band structure with enhanced oxidation performance has been provided.
ISSN:0045-6535
1879-1298
DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127343