Microwave Synthesis of Visible-Light-Activated g-C(3)N(4)/TiO(2) Photocatalysts

The preparation of visible-light-driven photocatalysts has become highly appealing for environmental remediation through simple, fast and green chemical methods. The current study reports the synthesis and characterization of graphitic carbon nitride/titanium dioxide (g-C(3)N(4)/TiO(2)) heterostructures through a fast (1 h) and simple microwave-assisted approach. Different g-C(3)N(4) amounts mixed with TiO(2) (15, 30 and 45 wt. %) were investigated for the photocatalytic degradation of a recalcitrant azo dye (methyl orange (MO)) under solar simulating light. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the anatase TiO(2) phase for the pure material and all heterostructures produced. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that by increasing the amount of g-C(3)N(4) in the synthesis, large TiO(2) aggregates composed of irregularly shaped particles were disintegrated and resulted in smaller ones, composing a film that covered the g-C(3)N(4) nanosheets. Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) analyses confirmed the existence of an effective interface between a g-C(3)N(4) nanosheet and a TiO(2) nanocrystal. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) evidenced no chemical alterations to both g-C(3)N(4) and TiO(2) at the heterostructure. The visible-light absorption shift was indicated by the red shift in the absorption onset through the ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) absorption spectra. The 30 wt. % of g-C(3)N(4)/TiO(2) heterostructure showed the best photocatalytic performance, with a MO dye degradation of 85% in 4 h, corresponding to an enhanced efficiency of almost 2 and 10 times greater than that of pure TiO(2) and g-C(3)N(4) nanosheets, respectively. Superoxide radical species were found to be the most active radical species in the MO photodegradation process. The creation of a type-II heterostructure is highly suggested due to the negligible participation of hydroxyl radical species in the photodegradation process. The superior photocatalytic activity was attributed to the synergy of g-C(3)N(4) and TiO(2) materials.