Preparation of 2D hydroxyl-rich carbon nitride nanosheets for photocatalytic reduction of CO2. Issue 42 (8th April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Yan; Wang, Yanjie; Bi, Yiqing; Jin, Jiarui; Ehsan, Muhammad Fahad; Fu, Min; He, Tao
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 42(2015)
• Page Start: 33254
• Page End: 33261
• Publication Date: 2015-04-08
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ra04227e
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : The nanosheet exhibits better visible-light photocatalytic activity than bulk g-C3 N4 due to nanosheet nature and presence of more hydroxyl groups. Abstract : Hydroxyl-rich g-C3 N4 nanosheets were prepared by ultrasonic exfoliation of bulk g-C3 N4 in water. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, time-resolved fluorescence decay spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and photocurrent response. The results indicated that the bulk g-C3 N4 was exfoliated to five or six layers. The specific surface area increased from 8.66 m 2 g −1 for the bulk g-C3 N4 to 26.48 m 2 g −1 for the nanosheets. More importantly, the amount of hydroxyl group on the g-C3 N4 surface increased greatly upon ultrasonic treatment in water. Meanwhile, the separation rate of charge carriers was improved greatly and the conduction band potential shifts to a more negative value. All these can explain the enhanced activity of g-C3 N4 nanosheets for visible-light photocatalytic reduction of CO2 .