Large enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 by fabrication of a nanocomposite with introducing upconversion nanocrystal and Ag nanoparticles

A novel heterostructured nanocomposite UCNPs@SiO2@Ag/g-C3N4 was developed for the first time to substantially boost the solar-light driven photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. Its photocatalytic properties and photocatalytic mechanism were investigated. The as-synthesized photocatalyst with excellent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:RSC advances 2018-12, Vol.8 (74), p.42308-42321
Main Authors: Zhao, Feifei, Khaing, Kyu Kyu, Yin, Dongguang, Liu, Bingqi, Chen, Tao, Wu, Chenglong, Huang, Kexian, Deng, LinLin, Li, Luqiu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbon nitride
Catalysis
Catalytic activity
Chemistry
Hydrogen evolution
Hydrogen production
Nanocomposites
Nanocrystals
Nanoparticles
Photocatalysis
Photocatalysts
Photodegradation
Pollutants
Rhodamine
Separation
Silicon dioxide
Silver
Solar energy
Upconversion
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Summary:A novel heterostructured nanocomposite UCNPs@SiO2@Ag/g-C3N4 was developed for the first time to substantially boost the solar-light driven photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. Its photocatalytic properties and photocatalytic mechanism were investigated. The as-synthesized photocatalyst with excellent improvement in the solar absorption and separation efficiency of photoinduced electron–hole pairs exhibited optimum solar-induced photocatalytic activity in dye degradation and hydrogen production. The experimental results showed that the rates of degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and hydrogen evolution were about 10 and 12 times higher than that of pristine g-C3N4, respectively. The excellent photocatalytic activity was attributed to the synergetic effect of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on the modification of the photocatalytic properties of g-C3N4, resulting in a broad light response range for g-C3N4 as well as the fast separation and slow recombination of photoinduced electron–hole pairs. This study provides new insight into the fabrication of g-C3N4-based nanocomposite photocatalysts with high catalytic efficiency through the artful assembly of UCNPs, Ag NPs and g-C3N4 into a hetero-composite nanostructure. The prominent improvement in photocatalytic activity enables the potential application of g-C3N4 in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and hydrogen production utilizing solar energy.
ISSN:2046-2069
2046-2069
DOI:10.1039/c8ra07901c