Construction of Large‐Scale Ultrathin Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheets by a Hydrogen‐Bond‐Assisted Strategy for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production and Ciprofloxacin Degradation Activity

Abstract

Two‐dimensional nanosheets have attracted attention because of their fascinating properties in areas such as photocatalysis, sensors, and energy storage. Herein, a facile hydrogen‐bond‐assisted approach was designed to prepare graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) with large‐scale ultrathin nanosheets. Compared with previous methods, this method is simple, economical, and eco‐friendly. The as‐prepared ultrathin g‐C3N4 nanosheets have a few‐layer thickness of 2–3 nm and exhibit a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in both H2 production and ciprofloxacin degradation under visible light compared to pristine g‐C3N4. The enhanced photocatalytic activity is attributed to the minimal sheet thickness, high surface area, increased band gap, outstanding electron transport ability, and long charge‐carrier lifetime. In addition, the possible formation mechanism, transfer and separation behavior of the charge carriers, and the photocatalytic mechanism are discussed. This work presents a new hydrogen‐bond‐assisted self‐assembly strategy for the preparation of ultrathin g‐C3N4 nanosheets for application in photocatalysis.

A Novel Metal-Free Polymer-Based POPD/g-C3 N4 Photocatalyst with Enhanced Charge Carrier Separation for the Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

“…To date, some strategies have been used to overcome the above drawback. For example, nanoscaling, doping, surface modification and coupling with other semiconductor photocatalysts…”

Facile preparation of graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet/agar composite hydrogels for removal of tetracycline via the synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis

“…Compared with BCN, the peak intensity of the CNNS at 27.41 was weakened, which indicated that the g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets were obtained as expected. 26 In order to investigate the textural structures of the BCN and CNNS, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were measured and displayed. 27,28 As shown in Fig.…”

Zinc-Doped Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon Nitride for Colorimetric Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide

“…Polyethylene glycol (PEG) can act as a model structure directing template because of its low cost, low toxicity, relative stability, environmental friendliness, and uniform and well-ordered chain structure. Its ether oxygen forms week hydrogen bonds with melamine that could be exploited to prepare a controlled, well-structured, and self-assembled porous thin nanosheets . Thermal condensation of melamine began in the range of 300–350 °C, whereas PEG oxidized and decomposed to carbonaceous gases at 480 °C.…”

“…Its ether oxygen forms week hydrogen bonds with melamine that could be exploited to prepare a controlled, well-structured, and self-assembled porous thin nanosheets. 26 Thermal condensation of melamine began in the range of 300−350 °C, whereas PEG oxidized and decomposed to carbonaceous gases at 480 °C. PEG and carbonaceous gases may prevent the complete stacking of g-C 3 N 4 intermediates compounds, which may result in the formation of porous thin sheets of g-C 3 N 4 .…”