Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis of visible-light-driven g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction photocatalysts for improved photocatalytic performance

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The investigation of photocatalysts used in degrading organic pollutant is highly valuable for ameliorating the environmental pollution. Herein, the g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction was successfully fabricated by an impregnation route. The as-obtained composite g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 presents photocatalytic properties for degradation of the model organic pollutant rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. A sequence of characterizations confirmed that the g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 has an enhanced capability of light absorption than pristine g-C3N4 and La2Ti2O7. In the photocatalytic experiment, the degradation rate of RhB by 10% g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 (g-C3N4 accounts for 10% in the total mass) composite is about 90%, which is 5 times pure La2Ti2O7 and 3 times pure g-C3N4. This impressive improvement could be ascribed to the formation of a heterostructure between La2Ti2O7 and g-C3N4, and improved migration efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. M. Qin, D. Lan, J. Liu, H. Liang, L. Zhang, H. Xing, T. Xu, H. Wu, Synthesis of single-component metal oxides with controllable multi-shelled structure and their morphology-related applications. Chem. Rec. (2019). https://doi.org/10.1002/tcr.201900017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. M. Qin, Q. Shuai, G. Wu, B. Zheng, Z. Wang, H. Wu, Zinc ferrite composite material with controllable morphology and its applications. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 224, 125–138 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. H. Wu, G. Wu, Y. Ren, X. Li, L. Wang, Multishelled metal oxide hollow spheres: easy synthesis and formation mechanism. Chemistry 22, 8864–8871 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. X. Chen, Z. Wu, D. Liu, Z. Gao, Preparation of ZnO photocatalyst for the efficient and rapid photocatalytic degradation of azo dyes. Nanoscale Res. Lett. 12, 143 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Q. Wang, T. Niu, D. Jiao, Y. Bai, J. Zhong, J. Li, H. She, H. Huang, Preparation of visible-light-driven BiOBr composites with heteropolyacids (H3PW12O40) encapsulated by a zeolite for the photo-degradation of methyl orange. New J. Chem. 41, 4322–4328 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Wang, Q. Wang, X. Zhan, F. Wang, M. Safdar, J. He, Visible light driven type II heterostructures and their enhanced photocatalysis properties: a review. Nanoscale 5, 8326–8339 (2013)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. H. She, Y. Sun, S. Li, J. Huang, L. Wang, G. Zhu, Q. Wang, Synthesis of non-noble metal nickel doped sulfide solid solution for improved photocatalytic performance. Appl. Catal. B 245, 439–447 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Q. Wang, J. He, Y. Shi, S. Zhang, T. Niu, H. She, Y. Bi, Z. Lei, Synthesis of MFe2O4 (M = Ni, Co)/BiVO4 film for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production activity. Appl. Catal. B 214, 158–167 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Z. Zhao, J. Liu, H. Gong, G. Wu, H. Wu, Pt/Ni0.17Zn0.83O hybrids with enhanced photocatalytic performance: effect of reduction treatments. Results Phys 14, 102434 (2019)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. L. Zhang, M. Qin, Y. Yu, M. Zhang, X. Zhao, J. Qian, H. Wu, Preparation of ternary Pt–NiO–ZnO hybrids and investigation of its photocatalytic performance toward methyl orange. J. Mater. Sci.: Mater. Electron. 30, 5158–5169 (2019)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. W.K. Jo, S. Tonda, Novel CoAl-LDH/g-C3N4/RGO ternary heterojunction with notable 2D/2D/2D configuration for highly efficient visible-light-induced photocatalytic elimination of dye and antibiotic pollutants. J. Hazard. Mater. 368, 778–787 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. L. Wang, S. Duan, P. Jin, H. She, J. Huang, Z. Lei, T. Zhang, Q. Wang, Anchored Cu(II) tetra(4-carboxylphenyl)porphyrin to P25 (TiO2) for efficient photocatalytic ability in CO2 reduction. Appl. Catal. B 239, 599–608 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. J. Chen, S. Liu, L. Zhang, N. Chen, New SnS2/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced visible-light activity. Mater. Lett. 150, 44–47 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. S. Hu, B. Chi, J. Pu, L. Jian, Novel heterojunction photocatalysts based on lanthanum titanate nanosheets and indium oxide nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production activity. J. Mater. Chem. A 2, 19260–19267 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Ao, K. Wang, P. Wang, C. Wang, J. Hou, Synthesis of novel 2D–2D p–n heterojunction BiOBr/La2Ti2O7 composite photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic performance under both UV and visible light irradiation. Appl. Catal. B 194, 157–168 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Z. Ma, K. Wu, R. Sa, Q. Li, C. He, Z. Yi, Mechanism of enhanced photocatalytic activities on N-doped La2Ti2O7: an insight from density-functional calculations. Int. J. Hydrog. Energy 40, 980–989 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Z. Hua, X. Zhang, X. Bai, L. Lv, Z. Ye, X. Huang, Nitrogen-doped perovskite-type La(2)Ti(2)O(7) decorated on graphene composites exhibiting efficient photocatalytic activity toward bisphenol A in water. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 450, 45–53 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. F. Meng, S.K. Cushing, J. Li, S. Hao, N. Wu, Enhancement of solar hydrogen generation by synergistic interaction of La2Ti2O7 photocatalyst with plasmonic gold nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide nanosheets. ACS Catal. 5, 1949–1955 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. S. Wan, F. Qi, W. Jin, X. Guo, H. Liu, J. Zhao, J. Zhang, C. Tang, Construction of ultrafine Ag3PO4 nanoparticle and La2Ti2O7 nanosheet 0D/2D heterojunctions with improved photocatalytic performance. J. Alloys Compd. 740, 901–909 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. K. Wang, H. Li, X. Chen, D. Wan, D. Yan, Y. Ao, Synthesis of novel visible-light-driven p–n type heterojunction Cr2O3/La2Ti2O7 photocatalysts with improved photocatalytic performance. Mater. Lett. 220, 54–57 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Wen, J. Xie, X. Chen, X. Li, A review on g-C3N4-based photocatalysts. Appl. Surf. Sci. 391, 72–123 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. X. Wu, X. Wang, F. Wang, H. Yu, Soluble g-C3N4 nanosheets: facile synthesis and application in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Appl. Catal. B 247, 70–77 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. G. Mamba, A.K. Mishra, Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposites: a new and exciting generation of visible light driven photocatalysts for environmental pollution remediation. Appl. Catal. B 198, 347–377 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. X. Wu, F. Chen, X. Wang, H. Yu, In situ one-step hydrothermal synthesis of oxygen-containing groups-modified g-C3N4 for the improved photocatalytic H2-evolution performance. Appl. Surf. Sci. 427, 645–653 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. X. Wu, D. Gao, H. Yu, J. Yu, High-yield lactic acid-mediated route for a g-C3N4 nanosheet photocatalyst with enhanced H2-evolution performance. Nanoscale 11, 9608–9616 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. D.J. Kim, W.-K. Jo, Sustainable treatment of harmful dyeing industry pollutants using SrZnTiO3/g-C3N4 heterostructure with a light source-dependent charge transfer mechanism. Appl. Catal. B 242, 171–177 (2019)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Z. Cui, H. Yang, X. Zhao, Enhanced photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4/Bi4Ti3O12 heterojunction nanocomposites. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 229, 160–172 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Y. Wu, H. Wang, W. Tu, Y. Liu, Y.Z. Tan, X. Yuan, J.W. Chew, Quasi-polymeric construction of stable perovskite-type LaFeO3/g-C3N4 heterostructured photocatalyst for improved Z-scheme photocatalytic activity via solid p–n heterojunction interfacial effect. J. Hazard. Mater. 347, 412–422 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. M. Jiang, Y. Shi, J. Huang, L. Wang, H. She, J. Tong, B. Su, Q. Wang, Synthesis of flowerlike g-C3N4/BiOBr with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for dye degradation. Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 2018, 1834–1841 (2018)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. X. Cai, J. Zhang, M. Fujitsuka, T. Majima, Graphitic-C3N4 hybridized N-doped La2Ti2O7 two-dimensional layered composites as efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst. Appl. Catal. B 202, 191–198 (2017)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. J. Zhang, X. Chen, K. Takanabe, K. Maeda, K. Domen, J.D. Epping, X. Fu, M. Antonietti, X. Wang, Synthesis of a carbon nitride structure for visible-light catalysis by copolymerization. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 49, 441–444 (2010)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Y. Yu, S. Qu, D. Zang, L. Wang, H. Wu, Fast synthesis of Pt nanocrystals and Pt/microporous La2O3 materials using acoustic levitation. Nanoscale Res. Lett. 13, 50 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Q. Han, B. Wang, J. Gao, Z. Cheng, Y. Zhao, Z. Zhang, L. Qu, Atomically thin mesoporous nanomesh of graphitic C(3)N(4) for high-efficiency photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. ACS Nano 10, 2745–2751 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Y. Kang, Y. Yang, L.C. Yin, X. Kang, G. Liu, H.M. Cheng, An amorphous carbon nitride photocatalyst with greatly extended visible-light-responsive range for photocatalytic hydrogen generation. Adv. Mater. 27, 4572–4577 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Q. Han, C. Hu, F. Zhao, Z. Zhang, N. Chen, L. Qu, One-step preparation of iodine-doped graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets as efficient photocatalysts for visible light water splitting. J. Mater. Chem. A 3, 4612–4619 (2015)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. A. Fujishima, X. Zhang, D. Tryk, TiO2 photocatalysis and related surface phenomena. Surf. Sci. Rep. 63, 515–582 (2008)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. M. Xing, J. Zhang, F. Chen, B. Tian, An economic method to prepare vacuum activated photocatalysts with high photo-activities and photosensitivities. Chem. Commun. (Camb.) 47, 4947–4949 (2011)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. H. Liu, F. Shen, M. Xing, J. Zhang, M. Anpo, Synthesis, characterization and photo-activity of vacuum activated V4+ and Ti3+ Doped TiO2. Catal. Lett. 144, 1494–1498 (2014)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. S.C. Yan, Z.S. Li, Z.G. Zou, Photodegradation performance of g-C3N4 fabricated by directly heating melamine. Langmuir 25, 10397–10401 (2009)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Y. Ao, K. Wang, P. Wang, C. Wang, J. Hou, Fabrication of novel p–n heterojunction BiOI/La2Ti2O7 composite photocatalysts for enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. Dalton Trans. 45, 7986–7997 (2016)

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21663027, 21808189) and the Science and Technology Support Project of Gansu Province (1504GKCA027).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Geography and Environment Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China

    Xitong Zhou, Tianzhen Ju & Qizhao Wang

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, 730070, China

    Qizhao Wang

Authors
  1. Xitong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tianzhen Ju
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qizhao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Qizhao Wang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhou, X., Ju, T. & Wang, Q. Synthesis of visible-light-driven g-C3N4/La2Ti2O7 heterojunction photocatalysts for improved photocatalytic performance. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 1265–1274 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-02638-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-02638-6

Search

Navigation