Ultralight biodegradable 3D-g-C3N4 aerogel for advanced oxidation water treatment driven by oxygen delivery channels and triphase interfaces

Abstract The development of highly efficient and separation-free, low-cost photocatalysts have crucial prospect for sustainable wastewater treatment, because it is able to eliminate the hazards of organic pollutant with facile operation. However, the relatively high cost of previous photocatalysts highly obstructs the application of these materials. Herein, we report a cost-effective and distinct konjac/graphitic carbon nitride (KCN) aerogel, which has superior performance for advanced oxidation water treatment. The abundant porous structure of the ultralight aerogel ensures the rapid adsorption of pollutants, which is much helpful for the further photodegradation process. During the working process, the aerogel is half submerged in pollutant solution and half exposed in air, forming a distinctive gas-solid-liquid triphase system, where oxygen can be rapidly delivered into the solution via the porous channels, boosting the generation of hydroxyl and superoxide radicals. Meanwhile, the aerogel structure can separate the g-C3N4, obstruct its stacking, as well as improve the light absorption rate. The synthesis, utilization and readily biodegradable treatment of the KCN aerogels are all green and eco-friendly, which is extremely constructive for strategies to develop novel highly efficient photocatalytic materials.