Large scale production of novel g-C3N4 micro strings with high surface area and versatile photodegradation ability

Abstract

An easy, scalable and environmentally benign chemical method has been developed to synthesize micro strings of graphitic-C3N4 (msg-C3N4) through pre-treatment of melamine with HNO 3 in alkaline solvent at low temperature. This methodology results in a unique string type morphology of msg-C3N4 with higher surface area. These msg-C3N4 micro strings were used as a photocatalyst under visible light for photodegradation of rhodamine B, methyl blue and methyl orange. The msg-C3N4 shows enhanced photodegradation efficiency due to its high surface area and favourable bandgap. The first order rate constant for msg-C3N4 was measured which confirms the higher performance of msg-C3N4 in comparison to other reported materials such as g-C3N4, Fe2O3/g-C3N4 and TiO2 nanotubes. Thus, the method developed here is favourable for the synthesis of materials with higher surface area and unique morphology, which are favourable for high photodegradation activity. The Royal Society of Chemistry. Keywordsscale, large, c, inf, 3, production, novel, g, n, 4, ability, micro, strings, photodegradation, versatile, area, surface, high Disciplines Engineering | Physical Sciences and Mathematics Publication DetailsTahir, M., Cao, C., Butt, F. K., Butt, S., Idrees, F., Ali, Z., Aslam, I., Tanveer, M., Mahmood, A. & Mahmood, N. (2014). Large scale production of novel g-C3N4 micro strings with high surface area and versatile photodegradation ability. CrystEngComm, 16 (9), 1825-1830. AuthorsMuhammad Nawaz Tahir An easy, scalable and environmentally benign chemical method has been developed to synthesize micro strings of graphitic-C 3 N 4 (msg-C 3 N 4 ) through pre-treatment of melamine with HNO 3 in alkaline solvent at low temperature. This methodology results in a unique string type morphology of msg-C 3 N 4 with higher surface area. These msg-C 3 N 4 micro strings were used as a photocatalyst under visible light for photodegradation of rhodamine B, methyl blue and methyl orange. The msg-C 3 N 4 shows enhanced photodegradation efficiency due to its high surface area and favourable bandgap. The first order rate constant for msg-C 3 N 4 was measured which confirms the higher performance of msg-C 3 N 4 in comparison to other reported materials such as g-C 3 N 4 , Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 and TiO 2 nanotubes. Thus, the method developed here is favourable for the synthesis of materials with higher surface area and unique morphology, which are favourable for high photodegradation activity.

Improvement of g-C3N4 photocatalytic properties using the Hummers method

“…The bandgap increases from 2.72 eV for the bulk g-C 3 N 4 to 2.85 eV for the E-g-C 3 N 4 after the Hummers treatment. The larger bandgap, which shows a stronger oxidation-reduction ability, can quickly cause the charge-transfer rate [23] and quantum confinement effects, which result in a high removal efficiency [24,25].…”

Comparative study for N and S doped carbon dots: Synthesis, characterization and applications for Fe3+ probe and cellular imaging

“…Until now, scientific papers have demonstrated the use of different carbon-based materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide (GO), nano-C 60 and graphitic C 3 N 4 (g-C 3 N 4 ) nanofibers [25][26][27][28][29] etc. for fluorescent metal ions sensing.…”

Room-temperature synthesis of nanoporous 1D microrods of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with highly enhanced photocatalytic activity and stability

“…These desirable properties of 1D nanostructures make them suited to photocatalysis applications. To date, g-C 3 N 4 1D nanostructures such as nano/microfibers, nanorods, microstrings, nanotubes, tubular nanofibers, nanocones, and nanohelices have been successfully synthesized and studied for photocatalytic water splitting and water detoxification33343536373839. However, the reported morphologies were obtained in multiple steps and required, for example, the use of silicon templates, additional ultrasonication treatments, or plasma sputtering.…”