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Construction of g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12 hollow nanofibers with highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Construction of g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12 hollow nanofibers with highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance

Hongfei Shi, Jinchang Fu, Wei Jiang, Yueting Wang, Baolei Liu, Junxi Liu, Haifeng Ji, Weidong Wang and Zhe Chen
Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects, v 615, 126063
20 Apr 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.126063
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel

Abstract

Bismuth titanate Graphitic carbon nitride Heterostructure Hollow nanofibers Visible-light photocatalysis
The g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12 hollow nanofibers were prepared, which exhibited highly efficient visible-light photocatalytic performance for removing multiple pollutants in wastewater. [Display omitted] •Facile electrospinning and thermal polymerisation methods to synthesize g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12.•Excellent and stable catalytic activity for removing multiple pollutants with visible light.•The separation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers was significantly enhanced.•The photocatalysis mechanism was discussed based on experimental results and DFT calculations. The exploration and development of effective and persistent visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for environmental remediation is regarded as one of the most challenging current research areas. Herein, a novel g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12 (CN/BTO-X; X = 6, 9 and 10.8) hollow nanofiber composite was fabricated through a convenient electrospinning/calcination technique, followed by thermal polymerisation. The SEM and TEM images showed that CN/BTO composite mainly comprised a hollow nanofiber morphology with a diameter of 110 ± 20 nm. The XPS result confirmed the interfacial interaction between BTO and CN, implying the formation of a heterojunction between these components. Photocatalytic measurements revealed that the as-synthesized CN/BTO composite exhibited excellent and stable photocatalytic behaviour of dislodging multiple pollutants (including RhB, MO, TC and Cr (VI) etc.) with visible light (λ > 420 nm). Among these prepared composites, the CN/BTO-9 sample exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance with the rate constants of 0.03064 min−1 (TC), 0.11274 min–1 (RhB), 0.04474 min–1 (MO) and 0.01938 min–1 (Cr(VI)), respectively. The outstanding catalytic performance was ascribed to the high specific surface area, improved visible-light adsorption, heterostructure of CN/BTO with strong oxidative ability and efficient separation of photoinduced charge carriers, and its unique hollow nanofiber structure. The active species-capturing experiments and ESR tests verified that h+ and O2− were responsible for RhB/TC degradation. The mechanism accounting for the observed catalytic activities was discussed according to the band gap structure, DFT calculations and free radicals capture tests.

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#6 Clean Water and Sanitation

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Chemistry, Physical
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