Fabrication of carbon nitride nanotubes by a simple water-induced morphological transformation process and their efficient visible-light photocatalytic activity

Carbon nitride nanotubes (C3N4 NTs) were synthesized based on the nanosheets roll-up mechanism by a simple water-induced morphological transformation process using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a precursor. Water was used as the phase-transfer reagent, making the preparation process environmentally friendly. The visible-light photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared C3N4 NTs significantly increased compared to bulk g-C3N4 and g-C3N4 nanosheets toward rhodamine B degradation and hydrogen evolution from water-splitting. This result can be attributed to the high photogenerated carrier transfer efficiency, excellent mass transfer capability, sufficient active sites, and enhanced light utilization efficiency of C3N4 NTs.