Enhanced photocatalytic performance and mechanism of N-deficiently porous g-C3N4 in organic pollutant degradation

N-deficiently porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was synthesized from the mixture of melamine and urea through a one-pot co-polymerization procedure. In particular, UMCN, which was prepared with a mass ratio of 1 : 5 for melamine to urea, possesses a ultrahigh specific surface area of 183.7 m2/g. The unique structure can offer more surface active sites, narrow the bandgap, as well as enhance the separation and migration of photogenerated carriers. Consequently, UMCN exhibited fascinating photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), and the corresponding removal rate reached 99.3% within 30 minutes irradiated by visible light. Also, the optimal material demonstrated excellent recyclability, and the degradation rate of RhB still remained as high as 95.6% even in the 7th run. Also, UMCN presented desirable universality in eliminating other organic contaminants. This work provides a facile strategy for synthesizing high-performance g-C3N4-based photocatalyst material towards the elimination of environmental pollutants.