Plasmonic Ag decorated graphitic carbon nitride sheets with enhanced visible-light response for photocatalytic water disinfection and organic pollutant removal. (March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Feng; Li, Jiadong; Dong, Changchang; Bi, Yajun; Han, Xiaojun
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 242(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-03
• Subjects: Ag/g-C3N4 -- Visible light irradiation -- Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) -- Disinfection performance -- Photocatalysis; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Photocatalytic disinfection with high performance is thought to be a promising way for water purification. Herein, plasmonic Ag doped urea-derived graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3 N4 ) composites were fabricated via in-situ photo-deposition at room temperature as the visible-light photocatalyst. Scan electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images showed the uniform dispersion of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of g-C3 N4 sheet, which facilitated the synergistic effect of antibacterial performance from Ag and photocatalytic property from Ag/g-C3 N4 composites. Photocatalytic water disinfection against Escherichia coli with visible light was performed to demonstrate the improved photocatalytic property with assistance of Ag. The 3-Ag/g-C3 N4 exhibited the best bactericidal performance by inactivating all bacteria within 120 min with damaged cell membranes of Escherichia coli observed by scan electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. Photoluminescence spectra, steady-state surface photovoltage spectra, photocurrent response, and electrochemical impedance spectra results revealed that Ag nanoparticles inhibited the recombination of photo-generated e − and h + pairs and further reinforced the photocatalytic performance of g-C3 N4 . Scavenger experiments indicated that h + produced on valence band of g-C3 N4 dominated the photocatalytic disinfection process against Escherichia coli . This work further proved Ag/g-C3 N4 showed great potential in photocatalytic water disinfection under visible-light irradiation. Graphical abstract: Ag doped urea-derived g-C3 N4 composites showed great visible light photocatalytic bacteria disinfection and organic pollutant removal, while the photocatalytic process assisted by SPR effect of Ag NPs was systematically investigated. Image 1 Highlights: . Novel Ag doped urea-derived g-C3 N4 was fabricated via photodeposition method. . The visible light activity was enhanced by the SPR effect of AgNPs on g-C3 N4 . . The visible light disinfection on E.coli and simultaneous RhB removal were achieved. . The mechanisms of photocatalytic disinfection and RhB removal were proposed.