Efficient photo-assisted Fenton-like reaction of yolk–shell CuSe(Cu(2)Se)/g-C(3)N(4) heterojunctions for methylene blue degradation

Herein, a CuSe(Cu(2)Se) yolk–shell structure (CC) was synthesized when room temperature was 25 degree Celsius using Cu(2)O as a soft template, and the g-C(3)N(4)/CuSe(Cu(2)Se) heterojunction (CC-G) was formed by coupling appropriate amounts of g-C(3)N(4) in the selenization process to provide a novel, green, economical, and efficient photo-Fenton catalytic material. Photo-Fenton degradation experiments proved that in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), a small amount of g-C(3)N(4) hybridization on Cu-based Fenton catalysts significantly improved methylene blue (MB) degradation. The suitable amount of g-C(3)N(4) hybridization was selected according to the degradation efficiency. The mass of g-C(3)N(4) constituted 20% of the mass of the Cu(2)O soft template. The composite material prepared using this combination (CC-G-20) exhibited the best MB degradation performance. The MB degradation efficiency in the CC-G-20/H(2)O(2)/visible light system was almost 98.3% after 60 min, which is higher than those of the parent materials (g-C(3)N(4), 12.7%; CC, 58.6%) and had cyclic stability. The catalytic system can also stably degrade MB under dark conditions, where the MB degradation was almost 82% after 60 min. The heterojunction prevented excessive electrons and holes (e(−) and h(+)) recombination, stabilizing the reactive active substance of hydroxyl in the photo-Fenton-like catalytic system. Electron paramagnetic resonance and photoluminescence experiments confirmed this inference.