g-C3N4/UiO-66 nanohybrids with enhanced photocatalytic activities for the oxidation of dye under visible light irradiation

In this study, g-C3N4 nanosheets coated UiO-66 nanohybrids were fabricated via a simple solvothermal method. The physicochemical parameters, structural and electrochemical properties of g-C3N4/UiO-66 nanohybrids (CNUO-x) were investigated. The nanohybrids were systematically characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TGA, TEM, SEM, EDS elemental mappings, XPS, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, PL and DRS. It was found that the addition of moderate g-C3N4 could enhance the separation and migration rate of photo-induced charges, consequently leading to the increase of photocatalytic efficiency. The CNUO-1 nanohybrid exhibited better photocatalytic activity for the oxidation of Rh B under visible light irradiation, and displayed about 6.0 and 3.3 times faster than that of g-C3N4 and UiO-66, respectively. Meanwhile, the nanohybrid showed excellent stability and reusability in four cyclic experiments. Finally, the increased photocatalytic reaction mechanism was also proposed. O2−, h+ and OH were further found to be the main active contributors.