Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Direct Z-Scheme K4Nb6O17/Carbon-Rich Melon Heterostructures


Avcıoğlu C., Gurlo A., Bekheet M. F.

Advanced Sustainable Systems, cilt.8, sa.12, 2024 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 8 Sayı: 12
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/adsu.202400352
  • Dergi Adı: Advanced Sustainable Systems
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: 2D/2D heterostructure photocatalyst, graphitic carbon nitride, melon photocatalyst, photocatalytic dye degradation, Z-scheme heterojunction
  • Uşak Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

Melon (also known as graphitic carbon nitride, g-C3N4) holds promise for photocatalysis, but challenges such as severe charge recombination, low oxidation potential, and sluggish exciton dissociation hinder its performance. Herein, a series of carbon-rich, melon-based photocatalysts are synthesized via one-pot, temperature-induced condensation of urea with the addition of a trace amount of citric acid. The addition of citric acid enhances crystallinity, extends melon chains, increases the C/N ratio, and improves π–π layer stacking of heptazine units, thereby enhancing charge transport properties and visible-light harvesting capacity. These carbon nitride samples are then coupled with molten salt synthesized K4Nb6O17 crystals by a straightforward self-assembly method to construct 2D/2D heterostructure photocatalysts. Z-scheme electron transfer from K4Nb6O17 to the melon samples is established based on their work functions and band edge positions. This efficient charge transfer in the Z-scheme heterostructure facilitates the spatial separation of charge carriers, resulting in a nearly fivefold enhancement in photocatalytic performance compared to the individual constituents.