Logo image
Back
Boosting visible-light photocatalytic activity of exfoliated g-C3N4 by a facile strategy coupling ion intercalation and thermal treatment
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Boosting visible-light photocatalytic activity of exfoliated g-C3N4 by a facile strategy coupling ion intercalation and thermal treatment

Kingsley I. John, Touma B Issa, Aleks Nikoloski, Goen Ho and Dan Li
Emergent Materials
2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-025-01178-6
Appears in  Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
pdf
thermal treatment3.32 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride La doping Thermal exfoliation Photocatalysis Organic removal Environmental engineering Wastewater treatment processes Environmentally sustainable commercial services and tourism Management of liquid waste from commercial services and tourism (excl. water)
Exfoliated La-doped g-C3N4, namely La(x%)-eCN-N (x = 0.1%– 10%), was prepared via in-situ La doping and thermal treatment. The photocatalytic activity of La(x%)-eCN-N was explored through the degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light and then optimized by varying the loading of La dopant. The optimised La(1%)-eCN-N displayed an enhanced photocatalytic performance over the bulk and exfoliated g-C3N4, and bulk La-doped g-C3N4. Meanwhile, the use of La(1%)-eCN-N was seen with a high photocatalytic efficiency towards MO removal when compared with La(1%)-eCN-C, La(1%)-eCN-T, and La(1%)-eCN-U, which were prepared via conventional chemical, thermal and ultrasonic exfoliation of the pre-formed bulk La-doped g-C3N4. The observed outstanding photocatalytic activity of La(1%)-eCN-N was explained by several favourable features. In particular, the thin nanosheets would permit swift migration and effective separation of photogenerated charge carriers. The nitrogen adsorption–desorption analysis revealed an increased surface area and porosity, which might expose more active sites on the photocatalyst surface to adsorption and subsequent photocatalytic removal of MO molecules. Moreover, La(1%)-eCN-N was proven with improved visible light absorption, enhanced charge carrier separation and reduced transfer resistance. Its activity, along with the crystal and chemical characteristics, was largely retained after five cycles of photocatalytic reaction, affirming its good reusability and stability for potential practical application. The key reactive oxidising species involved in the photocatalytic removal of MO using La(1%)-eCN-N was experimentally determined to be the superoxide radical.

Details

Metrics

3 File views/ downloads
31 Record Views
2 Times Cited - Web of Science
Logo image