MOF-derived TiO modified with g-CN nanosheets for enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance

In this study, we synthesized MOF-derived TiO 2 modified with g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets by using a mechanical agitation method with further heat treatment. The effect of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheet incorporation ratio on the photocatalytic performance of the composites was studied. The physical and optical properties of the as-synthesized specimens were well characterized via multiple analytical techniques. The visible-light photocatalytic performance was evaluated using RhB as a model organic pollutant. Compared with pure TiO 2 and g-C 3 N 4 , the g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 photocatalysts exhibited superior visible-light photocatalytic activities. The optimized mass fraction of g-C 3 N 4 is 1%, namely the g-C 3 N 4 (1%)/TiO 2 specimen, which exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance. Based on the trapped active species, N 2 physisorption and photochemical experiments, the enhanced photocatalytic performance was ascribed to the accelerated separation rate of photogenerated charge carriers, the increased specific surface area, and the extended visible-light response range. Our current work demonstrated a potential route to develop high-performance photocatalysts in practical applications. A g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 heterojunction was prepared for the first time using a mechanical agitation method assisted by a template method and a two-step calcination method.