Improvement of visible light-induced photocatalytic performance by Cr-doped SrTiO₃−carbon nitride intercalation compound (CNIC) composite

Abstract

Novel organic−inorganic composite photocatalyst offers new opportunities in the practical applications of photocatalysis. Novel visible light-induced Cr-doped SrTiO₃–carbon nitride intercalation compound (CNIC) composite photocatalysts were synthesized. The composite photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and BET surface area analyzer. The photocatalytic oxidation ability of the novel composite photocatalyst was evaluated using methyl orange (MO) as a target pollutant. The photocatalysts exhibited a significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance in degrading MO. For maximizing the photodegradation activity of the composite photocatalysts, the optimal CNIC content was determined. The improved photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared Cr-doped SrTiO₃–CNIC composite photocatalyst may be attributed to the enhancement of photo-generated electron–hole separations at the interface.

Keywords

photocatalysis / carbon nitride intercalation compound (CNIC) / Cr-doped SrTiO₃ / composite

References

[1] PelaezM, NolanN T, PillaiS C, SeeryM K, FalarasP, KontosA G, DunlopP, SM, HamiltonJ, WJ, ByrneJ A, O’sheaK, EntezariM H, DionysiouD D. A review on the visible light active titanium dioxide photocatalysts for environmental applications [J]. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2012, 125: 331-349

[2] DholamR, PatelN, AdamiM, MiotelloA. Hydrogen production by photocatalytic water-splitting using Cr-or Fe-doped TiO₂ composite thin films photocatalyst [J]. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2009, 34(13): 5337-5346

[3] ChenC-c, MaW-h, ZhaoJ-cai. Semiconductor-mediated photodegradation of pollutants under visible-light irradiation [J]. Chem Soc Rev, 2010, 39(11): 4206-4219

[4] TankC M, SakhareY S, KanheN S, NawaleA B, DasA K, BhoraskarS V, MatheV L. Electric field enhanced photocatalytic properties of TiO₂ nanoparticles immobilized in porous silicon template [J]. Solid State Sci, 2011, 13(8): 1500-1504

[5] OsterlohF E. Inorganic materials as catalysts for photochemical splitting of water [J]. Chem Mater, 2008, 20(1): 35-54

[6] LinX-p, XingJ-c, WangW-d, ShanZ-c, XuF-f, HuangF-qiang. Photocatalytic activities of heterojunction semiconductors Bi₂O₃/BaTiO₃: A strategy for the design of efficient combined photocatalysts [J]. J Phys Chem C, 2007, 111(49): 18288-18293

[7] WangX-c, MaedaK, ThomasA, TakanabeK, XinG, CarlssonJ M, DomenK, AntoniettiM. A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light [J]. Nat Mater, 2009, 8(1): 76-80

[8] WuZ-c, GaoH-l, YanS-c, ZouZ-g. Synthesis of carbon black/carbon nitride intercalation compound composite for efficient hydrogen production [J]. Dalton Trans, 2014, 43(31): 12013-12017

[9] LiuG, NiuP, SunC-h, SmithS C, ChenZ-g, LuG-q M, ChengH-ming. Unique electronic structure induced high photoreactivity of sulfur-doped graphitic C₃N₄ [J]. J Am Chem Soc, 2010, 132(33): 11642-11648

[10] YanS-c, LiZ-s, ZouZ-gang. Photodegradation of Rhodamine B and methyl orange over boron-doped g-C₃N₄ under visible light irradiation [J]. Langmuir, 2010, 26(6): 3894-3901

[11] ZhangY-j, MoriT, YeJ-h, AntoniettiM. Phosphorus-doped carbon nitride solid: enhanced electrical conductivity and photocurrent generation [J]. J Am Chem Soc, 2010, 132(18): 6294-6295

[12] YueB, LiQ-y, IwaiH, KakoT, YeJ-hua. Hydrogen production using zinc-doped carbon nitride catalyst irradiated with visible light [J]. Sci Technol Adv Mater, 2011, 12(3): 034401

[13] GaoH-l, YanS-c, WangJ-j, HuangY-a, WangP, LiZ-s, ZouZ-gang. Towards efficient solar hydrogen production by intercalated carbon nitride photocatalyst [J]. Phys Chem Chem Phys, 2013, 15(41): 18077-18084

[14] YanH-j, YangH-xin. TiO₂–g-C₃N₄ composite materials for photocatalytic H₂ evolution under visible light irradiation [J]. J Alloys Compd, 2011, 509(4): L26-L29

[15] LiH-p, LiuJ-y, HouW-g, DuN, ZhangR-j, TaoX-tang. Synthesis and characterization of g-C₃N₄/Bi₂MoO₆ heterojunctions with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity [J]. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2014, 160/161: 89-97

[16] XiangQ-j, YuJ-g, JaroniecM. Preparation and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H₂-production activity of graphene/C₃N₄ composites [J]. J Phys Chem C, 2011, 115(15): 7355-7363

[17] KangH W, LimS N, SongD-s, ParkS B. Organic-inorganic composite of g-C₃N₄–SrTiO₃: Rh photocatalyst for improved H₂ evolution under visible light irradiation [J]. Int J Hydrogen Energy, 2012, 37(16): 11602-11610

[18] FuJ, TianY-l, ChangB-b, XiF-n, DongX-ping. BiOBr–carbon nitride heterojunctions: Synthesis, enhanced activity and photocatalytic mechanism [J]. J Mater Chem, 2012, 22(39): 21159-21166

[19] YanS-c, LvS-b, LiZ-s, ZouZ-gang. Organic–inorganic composite photocatalyst of g-C₃N₄ and TaON with improved visible light photocatalytic activities [J]. Dalton Trans, 2010, 39(6): 1488-1491

[20] XuH, YanJ, XuY-g, SongY-h, LiH-m, XiaJ-x, HuangC-j, WanH-lin. Novel visible-light-driven AgX/graphite-like C₃N₄ (X=Br, I) hybrid materials with synergistic photocatalytic activity [J]. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2013, 129: 182-193

[21] DomenK, KudoA, OnishiT, KosugiN, KurodaH. Photocatalytic decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen over nickel(II) oxide-strontium titanate (SrTiO₃) powder. 1. Structure of the catalysts [J]. J Phys Chem, 1986, 90(2): 292-295

[22] WangJ-s, YinS, KomatsuM, ZhangQ-w, SaitoF, SatoT. Preparation and characterization of nitrogen doped SrTiO₃ photocatalyst [J]. J Photochem Photobiol A, 2004, 165(1/2/3): 149-156

[23] YuH, OuyangS-x, YanS-c, LiZ-s, YuT, ZouZ-gang. Sol–gel hydrothermal synthesis of visible-light-driven Cr-doped SrTiO₃ for efficient hydrogen production [J]. J Mater Chem, 2011, 21(30): 11347-11351

[24] YanS-c, LiZ-s, YuT, ZouZ-gang. Photodegradation performance of g-C₃N₄ fabricated by directly heating melamine [J]. Langmuir, 2009, 25(17): 10397-10401

[25] DresselhausM S, DresselhausG. Intercalation compounds of graphite [J]. Adv Phys, 2002, 51(1): 1-186

[26] Lin-VienD, ColthupN B, FatelleyW G, GrasselliJ GThe handbook of infrared and Raman characteristic frequencies of organic molecules [M], 1991San Diego, CAAcademic Press Inc

[27] ChenG, LiZ H, ZhangZ G. Electronic structure and visible light photocatalysis water splitting property of chromium-doped SrTiO₃ [J]. J Solid State Chem, 2006, 179(12): 3704-3708

[28] YangM, HuangQ, JinX-qi. ZnGaNO solid solution-C₃N₄ composite for improved visible light photocatalytic performance [J]. Mater Sci and Eng B, 2012, 177(8): 600-605

[29] YoonS H, LeeJ H. Oxidation mechanism of As(III) in the UV/TiO₂ system: Evidence for a direct hole oxidation mechanism [J]. Environ Sci Technol, 2005, 39(24): 9695-9701

[30] LiuG-m, LiX-z, ZhaoJ-c, HorikoshiS, HidakaH. Photooxidation mechanism of dye alizarin red in TiO₂ dispersions under visible illumination: An experimental and theoretical examination [J]. J Mol Catal A: Chem, 2000, 153(1/2): 221-229

[31] KatoH, KudoA. Visible-light-response and photocatalytic activities of TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ photocatalysts codoped with antimony and chromium [J]. J Phys Chem B, 2002, 106(19): 5029-5034

[32] GeL, HanC-c, LiuJing. Novel visible light-induced g-C₃N₄/Bi₂WO₆ Composite photocatalysts for efficient degradation of methyl orange [J]. Appl Catal B: Environ, 2011, 108/109: 100-107