Improving g-C 3 N 4 photocatalytic performance by hybridizing with Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 nanosheets

Abstract Utilization of semiconductor photocatalysts has been proved to be a cost-effective means for realizing environmental remediation. In this study, visible light-driven Bi2O2CO3/g-C3N4 nanosheets-coupled heterojunction photocatalysts were successfully fabricated via a facile planetary ball milling approach for the first time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) revealed that an intimate contact interface formed definitely. The crystal phase, characteristic function groups, optical absorption, surface area/porosity, separation of charge carriers, and surface chemical state of the composites were symmetrically investigated by XRD, FTIR, UV-vis, BET-BJH, PL and XPS. It was found that the as-prepared photocatalysts pull double duty to promote the photocatalytic redox activity of CH3CHO, RhB and Cr (VI) degradation, showing 5.6, 4.0 and 2.5 times higher than that of g-C3N4 counterpart, respectively. Such a remarkable enhancement of photocatalytic activity was mainly attributed to the highly efficient separation of charge carriers between the nanosheets-coupled heterojunction interface, enlarged specific surface area and porosity volume, and high content of generated activated oxygen species (H2O2). The results indicate that this universal photocatalyst is a preferential option for photocatalytic degradation of various environmental contaminants.