Structure Modification Function of g-C3 N4 for Al2 O3 in the In Situ Hydrothermal Process for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

Heterojunctions of g-C3 N4 /Al2 O3 (g-C3 N4 =graphitic carbon nitride) are constructed by an in situ one-pot hydrothermal route based on the development of photoactive γ-Al2 O3 semiconductor with a mesoporous structure and a high surface area (188 m(2) g(-1) ) acting as electron acceptor. A structure modification function of g-C3 N4 for Al2 O3 in the hydrothermal process is found, which can be attributed to the coordination between unoccupied orbitals of the Al ions and lone-pair electrons of the N atoms. The as-synthesized heterojunctions exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3 N4 . The hydrogen generation rate and the reaction rate constant for the degradation of methyl orange over 50 % g-C3 N4 /Al2 O3 under visible-light irradiation (λ>420 nm) are 2.5 and 7.3 times, respectively, higher than those over pristine g-C3 N4 . The enhanced activity of the heterojunctions is attributed to their large specific surface areas, their close contact, and the high interfacial areas between the components as well as their excellent adsorption performance, and efficient charge transfer ability.

Keywords: aluminum; catalysis; ceramics; electron transport; photochemistry.