Cellulose-assisted construction of high surface area Z-scheme C-doped g-C3N4/WO3 for improved tetracycline degradation

Cong Zhao; Fangli Ran; Lin Dai; Chenyu Li; Chunyang Zheng; Chuanling Si

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117343

Cellulose-assisted construction of high surface area Z-scheme C-doped g-C₃N₄/WO₃ for improved tetracycline degradation

Carbohydr Polym. 2021 Mar 1:255:117343. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117343. Epub 2020 Nov 2.

Authors

Cong Zhao¹, Fangli Ran¹, Lin Dai², Chenyu Li³, Chunyang Zheng⁴, Chuanling Si⁵

Affiliations

¹ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
² Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China. Electronic address: dailin@tust.edu.cn.
³ Department of Environment and Health, Tianjin Institute of Environmental and Operational Medicine, Tianjin 300050, China. Electronic address: nk_lcy710430@hotmail.com.
⁴ Robustnique Co. Ltd. Block C, Phase II, Pioneer Park, Lanyuan Road, Tianjin 300384, China. Electronic address: chunyang_tianjin@163.com.
⁵ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China. Electronic address: sichli@tust.edu.cn.

PMID: 33436186
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.117343

Abstract

The preparation of heteroatom doping heterojunction photocatalysts with nontoxic carbonaceous materials and simple method still remains a challenge. Herein, ternary Z-scheme C-doped graphitic carbon nitride/tungsten oxide (C-doped g-C₃N₄/WO₃) was successfully fabricated via the hydrothermal impregnation with cellulose nanocrystal, high-temperature calcination, and electrostatic self-assembly with WO₃ nanocuboids in turns. Benefiting from the porous structure, high specific areas (57.20 m² g^-1), C-substitution, and the formation of Z-scheme heterojunction, the resulting photocatalyst exhibited narrower band-gap, enhanced visible-light absorption and separation of charge carrier, faster interfacial charge transfer, good oxidation/reduction capacities, and thus improved the photocatalytic activity performance. As such, this investigation will provide an effective route for not only incorporating semiconductors and heteroatoms into g-C₃N₄ but also developing more heterojunction with markedly improved photocatalytic performance.

Keywords: Cellulose nanocrystal; Hydrothermal impregnation; Photocatalyst; Z-scheme heterojunction; g-C(3)N(4).