Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields

The photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde by graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> is one of the most attractive and environmentally friendly strategies to address the significant threat to human health posed by indoor air pollutants. Despite its potential, this degra...

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Main Authors: Dongmei Peng, Zhongfeng Zhang, Jijuan Zhang, Yang Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-08-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/15/5815
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author Dongmei Peng
Zhongfeng Zhang
Jijuan Zhang
Yang Yang
author_facet Dongmei Peng
Zhongfeng Zhang
Jijuan Zhang
Yang Yang
author_sort Dongmei Peng
collection DOAJ
description The photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde by graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> is one of the most attractive and environmentally friendly strategies to address the significant threat to human health posed by indoor air pollutants. Despite its potential, this degradation process still faces issues with suboptimal efficiency, which may be attributed to the rapid recombination of photogenerated excitons and the broad band gap. As a proof of concept, a series of graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>@C<sub>60</sub> composites combining graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>60</sub> was developed via an in situ generation strategy. The obtained graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>@C<sub>60</sub> composites exhibited a remarkable increase in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of formaldehyde, of up to 99%, under visible light irradiation, outperforming pure graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>60</sub>. This may be due to the composites’ enhanced built-in electric field. Additionally, the proposed composites maintained a formaldehyde removal efficiency of 84% even after six cycles, highlighting their potential for indoor air purification and paving the way for the development of efficient photocatalysts.
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spelling doaj.art-9cfa82a473994d1eb58e4c9938e01d922023-11-18T23:19:14ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-08-012815581510.3390/molecules28155815Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric FieldsDongmei Peng0Zhongfeng Zhang1Jijuan Zhang2Yang Yang3College of Furniture and Art Design, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410000, ChinaCollege of Furniture and Art Design, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410000, ChinaCollege of Furniture and Art Design, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410000, ChinaCollege of Furniture and Art Design, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410000, ChinaThe photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde by graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> is one of the most attractive and environmentally friendly strategies to address the significant threat to human health posed by indoor air pollutants. Despite its potential, this degradation process still faces issues with suboptimal efficiency, which may be attributed to the rapid recombination of photogenerated excitons and the broad band gap. As a proof of concept, a series of graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>@C<sub>60</sub> composites combining graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>60</sub> was developed via an in situ generation strategy. The obtained graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>@C<sub>60</sub> composites exhibited a remarkable increase in the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of formaldehyde, of up to 99%, under visible light irradiation, outperforming pure graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> and C<sub>60</sub>. This may be due to the composites’ enhanced built-in electric field. Additionally, the proposed composites maintained a formaldehyde removal efficiency of 84% even after six cycles, highlighting their potential for indoor air purification and paving the way for the development of efficient photocatalysts.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/15/5815graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/C<sub>60</sub> compositerobust built-in electric fieldcharge transferphotocatalysisformaldehyde degradation
spellingShingle Dongmei Peng
Zhongfeng Zhang
Jijuan Zhang
Yang Yang
Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
Molecules
graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/C<sub>60</sub> composite
robust built-in electric field
charge transfer
photocatalysis
formaldehyde degradation
title Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
title_full Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
title_fullStr Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
title_full_unstemmed Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
title_short Improving Photocatalytic Activity for Formaldehyde Degradation by Encapsulating C<sub>60</sub> Fullerenes into Graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> through the Enhancement of Built-in Electric Fields
title_sort improving photocatalytic activity for formaldehyde degradation by encapsulating c sub 60 sub fullerenes into graphite like c sub 3 sub n sub 4 sub through the enhancement of built in electric fields
topic graphite-like C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/C<sub>60</sub> composite
robust built-in electric field
charge transfer
photocatalysis
formaldehyde degradation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/15/5815
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