The
graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4)/nitrogen-doped
carbon dots (NCDs)/silver (Ag) ternary composite catalysts for organic
pollution degradation in aqueous solution were constructed using an
interfacial electronic control mechanism with double doping of NCDs
and Ag nanoparticles (NPs). NCDs can act as a bridge for electrons
to guide the flow of photogenerated charge carriers. The Ag NPs acts
as photosensitizers and electron acceptors, enhancing electron transport
in the material. With the synergistic effect of NCDs and Ag NPs, the
absorption range of the visible spectrum of the g-C3N4/NCDs/Ag catalyst is broadened, the excitation of electrons
is enhanced, and the photogenerated electron–hole binding rate
is slowed down. The experimental results showed that the degradation
of several contaminants [methyl orange (MO), rhodamine B (Rh B), tetracycline
hydrochloride, and chrysin hydrochloride] could be achieved within
100 min using a 300 W xenon lamp as the light source (λ >
400
nm). It is very noteworthy that the reaction rates of g-C3N4/NCDs/Ag catalysts for the degradation of MO and Rh
B were 13.5 and 12.9 times higher than those of conventional g-C3N4, respectively. NCDs and Ag NPs are uniformly
distributed inside the material by inducing g-C3N4 to undergo self-assembly, and thus the g-C3N4/NCDs/Ag catalysts exhibit a stable recycling performance. In addition, •O2
– was confirmed as the
main active substance in the photocatalytic process by radical capture
experiments and EPR tests, and •OH was used as a
secondary site to assist in the photocatalytic degradation process.
This design idea of a double-doped modulated g-C3N4 material is expected to be applied in more fields.