Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight
The photocatalytic performance of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> materials prepared by different precursors for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation was studied. Their crystal structure, morphologies, chemical compositions, functional groups, and optical and photoelectrochemical p...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| author | Muxi Zhang Meiyan Xing Bin Dong Hongxia Zhang Xiaojie Sun Qiuhong Li Xueshuang Lu Jingjing Mo Hongxiang Zhu |
| author_facet | Muxi Zhang Meiyan Xing Bin Dong Hongxia Zhang Xiaojie Sun Qiuhong Li Xueshuang Lu Jingjing Mo Hongxiang Zhu |
| author_sort | Muxi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The photocatalytic performance of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> materials prepared by different precursors for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation was studied. Their crystal structure, morphologies, chemical compositions, functional groups, and optical and photoelectrochemical performances of prepared g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> were analysed and characterised using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence, and electrochemical workstations. The degradation of RhB dye in the presence of visible light and sunlight was utilised to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst. The results of the photocatalytic comparison experiment showed that the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst prepared with urea as a precursor (UCN) has the best photocatalytic performance, achieving 99.61% removal in 40 min. In addition, the photocatalyst UCN can completely degrade 10 mg/L RhB dye within 20 min under sunlight, demonstrating its potential for practical applications under natural sunlight conditions. After four cycles, the degradation rate remains above 99%, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. Due to its lower average pore number, larger BET-specific surface area and volume of pores, UCN provides more activity spaces and facilitates the adsorption of pollutant molecules, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity. It was established through the active substance trapping studies that the main reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process of RhB dye is •O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>. This study showed that g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> synthesised with urea as the precursor has better photocatalytic performance in the degradation of RhB dye. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-a10078f43c674fbf87cd8070696bce932023-11-19T03:22:24ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412023-08-011516290310.3390/w15162903Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural SunlightMuxi Zhang0Meiyan Xing1Bin Dong2Hongxia Zhang3Xiaojie Sun4Qiuhong Li5Xueshuang Lu6Jingjing Mo7Hongxiang Zhu8College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaSchool of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaCollege of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaModern Industry College of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, ChinaThe photocatalytic performance of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> materials prepared by different precursors for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye degradation was studied. Their crystal structure, morphologies, chemical compositions, functional groups, and optical and photoelectrochemical performances of prepared g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> were analysed and characterised using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra, photoluminescence, and electrochemical workstations. The degradation of RhB dye in the presence of visible light and sunlight was utilised to assess the photocatalytic efficiency of the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst. The results of the photocatalytic comparison experiment showed that the g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst prepared with urea as a precursor (UCN) has the best photocatalytic performance, achieving 99.61% removal in 40 min. In addition, the photocatalyst UCN can completely degrade 10 mg/L RhB dye within 20 min under sunlight, demonstrating its potential for practical applications under natural sunlight conditions. After four cycles, the degradation rate remains above 99%, demonstrating excellent stability and reusability. Due to its lower average pore number, larger BET-specific surface area and volume of pores, UCN provides more activity spaces and facilitates the adsorption of pollutant molecules, thereby enhancing photocatalytic activity. It was established through the active substance trapping studies that the main reactive species involved in the photocatalytic degradation process of RhB dye is •O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>. This study showed that g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> synthesised with urea as the precursor has better photocatalytic performance in the degradation of RhB dye.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/16/2903g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>ureamelaminephotocatalystsRhodamine B |
| spellingShingle | Muxi Zhang Meiyan Xing Bin Dong Hongxia Zhang Xiaojie Sun Qiuhong Li Xueshuang Lu Jingjing Mo Hongxiang Zhu Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight Water g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> urea melamine photocatalysts Rhodamine B |
| title | Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight |
| title_full | Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight |
| title_fullStr | Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight |
| title_short | Thermal Polymerisation Synthesis of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Dye under Natural Sunlight |
| title_sort | thermal polymerisation synthesis of g c sub 3 sub n sub 4 sub for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine b dye under natural sunlight |
| topic | g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> urea melamine photocatalysts Rhodamine B |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/16/2903 |
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