Fabrication, characterization and photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 coupled with FeVO4 nanorods. Issue 35 (18th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nong, Qingyan; Cui, Min; Lin, Hongjun; Zhao, Leihong; He, Yiming
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 35(2015)
• Page Start: 27933
• Page End: 27939
• Publication Date: 2015-03-18
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra01484k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : The coupling of FeVO4 nanorods with g-C3 N4 promotes the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron–hole pairs, and subsequently enhances its photocatalytic activity in rhodamine photodegradation. Abstract : A novel FeVO4 /g-C3 N4 composite photocatalyst was synthesized via a simple mixing-calcination method and characterized by various techniques including the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and an electrochemical method. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). Results indicated that the FeVO4 /g-C3 N4 composite exhibited a much higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3 N4 under visible light illumination. The rate constant of RhB degradation for the optimal FeVO4 /g-C3 N4 composite (5.0% FeVO4 /g-C3 N4 ) is approximately 2.2 times that of pure g-C3 N4 . The formation of a heterojunction structure between FeVO4 and g-C3 N4 which efficiently promoted the separation of electron–hole pairs was believed to be the origin of the enhanced photoactivity.