Energy-transfer-mediated oxygen activation in carbonyl functionalized carbon nitride nanosheets for high-efficient photocatalytic water disinfection and organic pollutants degradation. (15th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zeng, Zhenxing; Fan, Yaofang; Quan, Xie; Yu, Hongtao; Chen, Shuo; Zhang, Shushen
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 177(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-15
• Subjects: Carbon nitride nanosheet -- Photocatalytic water disinfection -- Oxygen activation -- Singlet oxygen -- Energy transfer process -- Organic pollutants degradation; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115798
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: Polymeric photocatalysts are promising candidates for water purification, however their catalytic performance are still unsatisfactory due to the fast charge recombination that leads to low reactive oxygen radicals production. In this study, a conceptual energy-transfer-mediated photocatalytic oxygen activation system over polymeric carbon nitride without the need of electron-hole separation is proposed, exhibiting remarkable singlet oxygen triggered bacteria inactivation performance as well as organic pollutants degradation. By structure and excitonic effect modulation, the oxygen activation process changes from the traditional electron-transfer mechanism to the final energy-transfer pathway, leading to the selective generation of singlet oxygen with high efficiency. The generated singlet oxygen is found to fervently attack the bacteria membrane, creating irreparable pores or holes on the cell membrane for cytoplasmic contents leaking out to accelerate bacteria destruction. The work demonstrated here offers a new photocatalytic oxygen activation pathway for achieving high-efficient reactive oxygen species generation performance without the need of charge separation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A conceptual energy transfer mediated photocatalytic oxygen activation system is proposed. Carbonyl groups modification enables the selective generation of singlet oxygen. Enhanced photocatalytic radical generation without the need of electron-hole separation. Enhanced singlet oxygen generation enables excellent water treatment performance.