Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of g-C3N4/Kaolinite Composite

doi:10.15541/jim20160004

Abstract

Abstract:

g-C₃N₄/kaolinite composite photocatalysts were prepared via impregnation method. The microstructure, optical and interface properties of the obtained composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscope (UV-Vis DRS), respectively. The as-synthesized KA/g-C₃N₄(H⁺)-6︰3 sample exhibits significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation towards degradation of rhodamine B, which is 8.62 times that of the pure g-C₃N₄. The g-C₃N₄ and kaolinite are firmly combined together via electrostatic force. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the g-C₃N₄/ kaolinite composite is attributed to the improved adsorption capacity and the synergistic effect of the g-C₃N₄ and kaolinite, which restrains the recombination of electron-hole pairs.

Key words: kaolinite, g-C3N4, visible-light photocatalysis, impregnation method

CLC Number:

TB33

YAO Guang-Yuan, HUANG Wei-Xin, LI Chun-Quan, SUN Zhi-Ming, ZHENG Shui-Lin. Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of g-C₃N₄/Kaolinite Composite[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2016, 31(9): 929-934.

Figures/Tables 7

Fig. 1 XRD patterns for kaolinite, g-C3N4, g-C3N4(H+) and the as-prepared KA/ g-C3N4 (H+) composites

Fig. 2 SEM images of (a, b) kaolinite, (c, d) g-C3N4, (e, f) g-C3N4(H+), and (g, h) KA/g-C3N4 (H+)-6︰3

Table 1 BET surface area, pore volume and average pore diameter of kaolinite, g-C3N4, g-C3N4(H+) and KA/CN(H+)-6︰3

Samples	BET surface area /(m²·g^-1)	Pore volume /(cm³·g^-1)	Average pore diameter /nm
KA	21.77	0.055	9.16
KA/ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)-6︰3	26.17	0.060	8.30
g-C₃N₄	15.32	0.049	11.18
g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)	18.19	0.048	9.53

Fig. 3 UV-Vis DRS (a) and band gaps (b) of kaolinite, g-C3N4, g-C3N4(H+) and as-prepared KA/ g-C3N4 (H+) composites

Fig. 4 (a) Photocatalytic degradation of and (b) linear transform ln(C0/C) of the kinetic curves of RhB under visible light

Table 2 Parameters of the pseudo-first order for RhB degradation under visible light over various catalysts

Samples	Pseudo-first order
Samples	Fitted equation	k/min^-1	Correlation coefficient (R²)
g-C₃N₄	y=0.00061x+0.0491	0.00061	0.9989
KA/ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)-4︰3	y=0.00396x+0.2844	0.00396	0.9976
KA/ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)-5︰3	y=0.00372x+0.3026	0.00372	0.9973
KA/ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)-6︰3	y=0.00526x+0.4479	0.00526	0.9969
KA/ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)-7︰3	y=0.00274x+0.3261	0.00274	0.9971
g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)	y=0.00102x+0.0553	0.00102	0.9984
KA+ g-C₃N₄ (H⁺)	y=0.00036x+0.2684	0.00036	0.9918

Fig. 5 Effects of different scavengers on the degradation of RhB by KA/CN(H+)-6:3 composite

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Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of g-C₃N₄/Kaolinite Composite

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