Flexible TiO(2)/PVDF/g-C(3)N(4) Nanocomposite with Excellent Light Photocatalytic Performance

As the world faces water shortage and pollution crises, the development of novel visible light photocatalysts to purify water resources is urgently needed. Over the past decades, most of the reported photocatalysts have been in powder or granular forms, creating separation and recycling difficulties. To overcome these challenges, a flexible and recyclable heterostructured TiO(2)/polyvinylidene fluoride/graphitic carbon nitride (TiO(2)/PVDF/g-C(3)N(4)) composite was developed by combining electrospinning, sintering and hydrothermal methods. In the composite, PVDF was used as a support template for removing and separating the photocatalyst from solution. Compared with pure TiO(2), the TiO(2)/PVDF/g-C(3)N(4) composite exhibited the extended light capture range of TiO(2) into the visible light region. The photogenerated carriers were efficiently transferred and separated at the contact interface between TiO(2) and g-C(3)N(4) under visible light irradiation, which consequently increased the photocatalytic activity of the photocatalyst. In addition, the flexible composites exhibited excellent self-cleaning properties, and the dye on the photocatalysts was completely degraded by the as-prepared materials. Based on the intrinsic low cost, recyclability, absorption of visible light, facile synthesis, self-cleaning properties and good photocatalytic performances of the composite, the photocatalyst is expected to be used for water treatment.