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Synergistic effects of the hybridization between boron-doped carbon quantum dots and n/n-type g-C3N4 homojunction for boosted visible-light photocatalytic activity

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Abstract

Dye wastewater has raised a prevalent environmental concern due to its ability to prevent the penetration of sunlight through water, thereby causing a disruption to the aquatic ecosystem. Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are particularly sought after for their highly tailorable photoelectrochemical and optical properties. Simultaneously, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has gained widespread attention due to its suitable band gap energy as well as excellent chemical and thermal stabilities. Herein, a novel boron-doped CQD (BCQD)-hybridized g-C3N4 homojunction (CN) nanocomposite was fabricated via a facile hydrothermal route. The optimal photocatalyst sample, 1-BCQD/CN (with a 1:3 mass ratio of boron to CQD) accomplished a Rhodamine B (RhB, 10 mg/L) degradation efficiency of 96.8% within 4 h under an 18 W LED light irradiation. The kinetic rate constant of 1.39 × 10–2 min−1 achieved by the optimum sample was found to be 3.6- and 2.8-folds higher than that of pristine CN and un-doped CQD/CN, respectively. The surface morphology, crystalline structure, chemical composition and optical properties of photocatalyst samples were characterized via TEM, FESEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, UV–Vis DRS and FL spectrometer. Based on the scavenging tests, it was revealed that the photogenerated holes (h+), superoxide anions (∙O2–) and hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) were the primary reactive species responsible for the photodegradation process. Overall, the highly efficient 1-BCQD/CN composite with excellent photocatalytic activity could provide a cost-effective and robust means to address the increasing concerns over global environmental pollution.

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article [and its supplementary information files].

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (Ref no: FRGS/1/2018/TK02/HWUM/03/2).

Funding

This work was funded by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) Malaysia under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (Ref no: FRGS/1/2018/TK02/HWUM/03/2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, Jalan Venna P5/2, Precinct 5, 62200, Putrajaya, Malaysia

    Sue Jiun Phang & Voon-Loong Wong

  2. Multidisciplinary Platform of Advanced Engineering, Chemical Engineering Discipline, School of Engineering, Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia

    Jiale Lee, Lling-Lling Tan & Siang-Piao Chai

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  1. Sue Jiun Phang
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  2. Jiale Lee
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  3. Voon-Loong Wong
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  4. Lling-Lling Tan
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  5. Siang-Piao Chai
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by SP and JL. The research work was supervised by VW, LT and SC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by SP, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lling-Lling Tan.

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Phang, S., Lee, J., Wong, VL. et al. Synergistic effects of the hybridization between boron-doped carbon quantum dots and n/n-type g-C3N4 homojunction for boosted visible-light photocatalytic activity. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 41272–41292 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-18253-0

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