A carbon nitride/TiO2 nanotube array heterojunction visible-light photocatalyst: synthesis, characterization, and photoelectrochemical properties

Xiaosong Zhou; Bei Jin; Liandi Li; Feng Peng; Hongjuan Wang; Hao Yu; Yueping Fang

doi:10.1039/C2JM32686H

A carbon nitride/TiO₂nanotube array heterojunction visible-light photocatalyst: synthesis, characterization, and photoelectrochemical properties

Xiaosong Zhou,^a Bei Jin,^a Liandi Li,^a Feng Peng,*^b Hongjuan Wang,^b Hao Yu^b and Yueping Fang*^c

* Corresponding authors

^a School of Chemistry Science & Technology, and Development Center for New Materials Engineering & Technology in Universities of Guangdong, Zhanjiang Normal University, Zhanjiang 524048, PR China

^b School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, PR China 510640
E-mail: cefpeng@scut.edu.cn
Fax: +86-20-8711-4916
Tel: +86-20-8711-4916

^c The Institute of Biomaterial, College of Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, PR China
E-mail: ypfang@scau.edu.cn
Fax: +86-20-8528-5565
Tel: +86-20-8528-5565

Abstract

A carbon nitride/TiO₂ nanotube array (CN/TNT) heterojunction photocatalyst with visible-light response was prepared by a simple electrochemical method. The photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The photoelectrochemical properties and photocatalytic activities of the obtained-samples were systematically tested under visible light irradiation. The activity of heterojunction photocatalyst CN/TNTs is higher than that of TNTs. The obviously increased performance of CN/TNTs is ascribed mainly to enhancement of electron–hole separations both at the interface and in the semiconductors.

Article information

https://doi.org/10.1039/C2JM32686H

Article type

Paper

Submitted

28 Apr 2012

Accepted

12 Jul 2012

First published

13 Jul 2012

Download Citation

J. Mater. Chem., 2012,22, 17900-17905

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A carbon nitride/TiO₂ nanotube array heterojunction visible-light photocatalyst: synthesis, characterization, and photoelectrochemical properties

X. Zhou, B. Jin, L. Li, F. Peng, H. Wang, H. Yu and Y. Fang, J. Mater. Chem., 2012, 22, 17900 DOI: 10.1039/C2JM32686H

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Journal of Materials Chemistry