Metal-free hybrids of graphitic carbon nitride and nanodiamonds for photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic applications

Li Zhou; Huayang Zhang; Xiaochen Guo; Hongqi Sun; Shaomin Liu; Moses O Tade; Shaobin Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.038

Metal-free hybrids of graphitic carbon nitride and nanodiamonds for photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic applications

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2017 May 1:493:275-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.038. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

Authors

Li Zhou¹, Huayang Zhang¹, Xiaochen Guo¹, Hongqi Sun², Shaomin Liu¹, Moses O Tade¹, Shaobin Wang³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia.
² School of Engineering, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia. Electronic address: h.sun@ecu.edu.au.
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, WA 6845, Australia. Electronic address: Shaobin.wang@curtin.edu.au.

PMID: 28110062
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.01.038

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) has been considered as a metal-free, cost-effective, eco-friendly and efficient catalyst for various photoelectrochemical applications. However, compared to conventional metal-based photocatalysts, its photocatalytic activity is still low because of the low mobility of carriers restricted by the polymer nature. Herein, a series of hybrids of g-C₃N₄ (GCN) and nanodiamonds (NDs) were synthesized using a solvothermal method. The photoelectrochemical performance and photocatalytic efficiency of the GCN/NDs were investigated by means of the generation of photocurrent and photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) solutions under UV-visible light irradiations. In this study, the sample of GCN/ND-33% derived from 0.1g GCN and 0.05g NDs displayed the highest photocatalytic activity and the strongest photocurrent density. The mechanism of enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic performances was also discussed.

Keywords: Carbon nitride; Nanodiamonds; Photocatalysis; Photoelectrochemical; Solvothermal.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't