The synergistic effect between WO₃ and g-C₃N₄ towards efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic performance

Abstract

We have developed a facile, scaled up, efficient and morphology-based novel WO3-g-C3N4 photocatalyst with different mass ratios of WO3 and g-C3N4. It was used for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation and it showed excellent enhanced photocatalytic efficiency as compared to pure g-C3N4 and WO3. The apparent performance of the composite/hybrid was 3.65 times greater than pure WO3 and 3.72 times greater than pure g-C3N4 respectively, and it was also found to be much higher than the previously reported ones. Furthermore, the optical properties of composite samples were evaluated. The bandgap of composite samples lies in the range of 2.3-2.5 eV, which was favourable for photodegradation. The possible mechanism for enhanced catalytic efficiency of the WO3-g-C3N4 photocatalyst is discussed in detail. It was found that the enhanced performance is due to the synergistic effect between the WO3 and g-C3N4 interface, improved optical absorption in the visible region and suitable band positions of WO3-g-C3N4 composites. This journal is We have developed a facile, scaled up, efficient and morphology-based novel WO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst with different mass ratios of WO 3 and g-C 3 N 4 . It was used for the photodegradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation and it showed excellent enhanced photocatalytic efficiency as compared to pure g-C 3 N 4 and WO 3 . The apparent performance of the composite/hybrid was 3.65 times greater than pure WO 3 and 3.72 times greater than pure g-C 3 N 4 respectively, and it was also found to be much higher than the previously reported ones. Furthermore, the optical properties of composite samples were evaluated. The bandgap of composite samples lies in the range of 2.3-2.5 eV, which was favourable for photodegradation. The possible mechanism for enhanced catalytic efficiency of the WO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst is discussed in detail. It was found that the enhanced performance is due to the synergistic effect between the WO 3 and g-C 3 N 4 interface, improved optical absorption in the visible region and suitable band positions of WO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 composites.

Boosting the performance of visible light‐driven WO 3 /g‐C 3 N 4 anchored with BiVO 4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

“…The g‐C 3 N 4 as a catalyst has suitable valence and conduction bands potential and may captivate visible light ranging approximately from 400 to 450 nm. Further, it has excellent chemical and physical stability due to unique 2‐D structure and its electronic configuration, high thermal stability, and better optical structure make it most attractive in many potential applications, eg, pollutants degradation, water splitting, reduction of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and energy harvesting fields . The poor electrical conductivity of graphitic carbon nitride and grain boundaries existed in semiconductors make it more appropriate to overwhelm the separation of charge carriers.…”

“…Further, it has excellent chemical and physical stability due to unique 2-D structure and its electronic configuration, high thermal stability, and better optical structure make it most attractive in many potential applications, eg, pollutants degradation, water splitting, reduction of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and energy harvesting fields. 30 The poor electrical conductivity of graphitic carbon nitride and grain boundaries existed in semiconductors make it more appropriate to overwhelm the separation of charge carriers. The STEM micrograph indicates the prepared WO 3 nanoparticles with irregular spherical shape structure with diameter ranging from 10 to 80 nm as shown in Figure 3C.…”

Facile synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheets loaded with WO3 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation

“…However, the CB position of WO 3 limits its photocatalytic reaction under visible light illumination since this CB level is not benecial to the single-electron reaction of O 2 . 29,30 It could decrease the recombination of hole-electron pairs and make up the defects of the conduction band by synergistic effect of two semiconductors when WO 3 coupling with g-C 3 N 4 .…”

“…Many attempts have been applied to form WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 composites to achieve the above goals, but there are no reports about using the WO x -EDA nanobelts, as the precursor of WO 3 to synthesize WO 3 / g-C 3 N 4 composites with a suitable combination method which could not only enlarge the specic surface area but also restrain the recombination of photo-excited carriers. [29][30][31][32][33] The WO x -EDA nanobelts was synthesized by solvothermally treating WO 3 in ethanediamine (EDA) following a so-called solvent-coordination molecular template (SCMT) mechanism.…”

Photocatalytic activities of coke carbon/g-C3N4 and Bi metal/Bi mixed oxides/g-C3N4 nanohybrids for the degradation of pollutants in wastewater

“…[45] and Aslam et al . [46] on g-C 3 N 4 /WO 3 ; Dong et al . [47] on organic Bi-spheres/C 3 N 4 ; and Ma et al .…”