Solvothermal synthesis and enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of novel graphitic carbon nitride–Bi2MoO6 heterojunctions

• A solvothermal method was used to prepare C3N4–Bi2MoO6 heterojunction.
• The obtained heterojunction has an enhanced visible absorption compared with C3N4.
• The material owns a high visible light activity and stability for dye degradation.

Novel graphitic carbon nitride (C3N4)–Bi2MoO6 heterojunctions with different contents of Bi2MoO6 nanosheets were in situ synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. The resulting C3N4–Bi2MoO6 heterojunctions possess enhanced absorption within the visible light range compared with pure C3N4. Meanwhile, these C3N4–Bi2MoO6 heterojunctions also exhibit much higher photocatalytic activity for methyl orange (MO) degradation than those of single C3N4 and Bi2MoO6, as well as Degussa P25. Significantly, the optimum photocatalytic activity of the 0.2C3N4–0.8Bi2MoO6 heterojunction is 3.56 and 3.45 times faster than those of either individual C3N4 or Bi2MoO6. Based on the trapping experiment results, we believe that photogenerated holes and superoxide radicals O2− play a major role in C3N4/Bi2MoO6 heterogeneous system under visible light irradiation. What is more, the heterojunction displays excellent stability and reusability. This work provides a promising strategy for constructing more C3N4 based heterojunctions.

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