Tuning dimensionality TiO2/g-C3N4 heterostructure for enhanced elemental mercury removal performance under visible-light

Abstract TiO2/g-C3N4 (TCN) heterojunction photocatalysts with dimensionality tuning was prepared, g-C3N4 successfully shifted from 3D (3DBG) to 2D (2DGN). Compared with 2DGN and TiO2, all the as-prepared heterostructure samples exhibited significantly enhanced photoactivities under light irradiation. Through the photocatalytic mercury removal experiment on samples with different doping ratios, the effect of oxygen species such as hydrocarbons or surface-adsorbing molecular H2O and doping amount on the performance of photocatalytic oxidation were investigated. Finally, the photocatalytic reaction mechanism of charge transfer in the dimensional adjustable Z-scheme heterojunction was proposed. This work provides a new strategy for developing efficient photocatalysts to control mercury.