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Preparation of 2D graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets by a green exfoliation approach and the enhanced photocatalytic performance

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Abstract

In this paper, we reported a new and environment-friendly strategy to exfoliate graphitic carbon nitride (CN) in hot water to obtain ultrathin CN nanosheets (CNNS). By thermal treating, water molecules were intercalated into the interlayer space of bulky CN and further hydrolyzed the bridge-linked N groups between tri-s-triazine units, thereby cutting the CN layers into CNNS. Due to the negative charges on surface (Zeta potential was −13 mV at pH 7), the CNNS colloids were extremely stable. The physicochemical characterization indicated that the as-prepared CNNS had a typical 2D morphology with a ~1.2 nm thickness and numerous –OH groups on surface. Moreover, the high charge separation and transport ability were achieved in CNNS because of the retaining of conjugated CN system. Compared to the bulk CN, the as-prepared ultrathin CNNS exhibited an enhanced photocatalytic performance (four times higher than that of the bulk CN) for degradation of organic dye under visible light irradiation. Additionally, the superior reusability and the excellent generality of CNNS for decomposing other pollutants were also demonstrated. Finally, we proposed a possible mechanism of CNNS based on the examined band structure and the main active species determined by quenching of various active species.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported from the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 21305127), Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. LY17B010004, LY17B050007) and the 521 talent project of ZSTU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, 928 Second Avenue, Xiasha Higher Education Zone, Hangzhou, 310018, China

    Jing Yan, Xiaoxue Han, Jiajia Qian, Jiyang Liu, Xiaoping Dong & Fengna Xi

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  1. Jing Yan
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  2. Xiaoxue Han
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  3. Jiajia Qian
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  4. Jiyang Liu
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  5. Xiaoping Dong
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Correspondence to Xiaoping Dong or Fengna Xi.

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Yan, J., Han, X., Qian, J. et al. Preparation of 2D graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets by a green exfoliation approach and the enhanced photocatalytic performance. J Mater Sci 52, 13091–13102 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-017-1419-5

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