Epitaxial Vertical Growth of Carbon Nitride-based Homojunction Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Abstract

The design and construction of vertical heteroepitaxial structures, although challenging, offer an ideal approach due to their open charge transport pathways and strong interfacial coupling effects. Herein, a supramolecular precursor derived from melamine and cyanuric acid was synthesized via sulfuric acid-assisted hydrothermal treatment. Subsequent temperature-controlled calcination enabled the in situ formation of a carbon nitride-based homojunction photocatalyst (CN/S-TCN) featuring a vertical epitaxial structure. This unique configuration effectively integrates the vertically aligned geometry with the intrinsic two-dimensional layered structure of graphitic carbon nitride. Consequently, the CN/S-TCN homojunction exhibits shortened charge transfer pathways, accelerated surface charge transfer kinetics, optimized band structure, and increased active site density. As a result, the CN/S-TCN catalyst demonstrated exceptional visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability, achieving 89% degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) within one hour. Radical trapping experiments identified superoxide radicals (^·O₂⁻) as the predominant active species responsible for TCH degradation. This work provides a valuable foundation for the design of such composite materials and the development of efficient photocatalysts.

Keywords

Epitaxial vertical growth / Carbon nitride / Homojunction / Visible-light photocatalysis

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Jilin University, The Editorial Department of Chemical Research in Chinese Universities and Springer-Verlag GmbH