Enhanced photo-induced charge separation and sun light-driven photocatalytic performance of g-C sub(3) N sub(4) modified by phosphate

Phosphate-decorated g-C sub(3)N sub(4) photocatalysts with enhanced photo-induced charge separation in visible light region and sun light-driven photocatalytic performance were prepared by a facile pore impregnation approach. The photocatalysts were characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and surface photovoltage spectroscopy, respectively. The results show that decorating g-C sub(3)N sub(4) by phosphate increases the adsorption of rhodamine B on the photocatalysts and the rate of photo-induced charges separation, especially the photo-induced charge separation rate in visible light region. The photocatalytic activities of g-C sub(3)N sub(4) decorated by phosphate for decolorization of rhodamine B aqueous solution were evaluated. The result shows that when the concentration of phosphate is 4 M, g-C sub(3)N sub(4) modified exhibits the best photocatalytic activity under simulated solar irradiation and the possible reason is discussed.