Complete oxidation of acetaldehyde over a composite photocatalyst of graphitic carbon nitride and tungsten(VI) oxide under visible-light irradiation

• Tungsten(VI) oxide and graphitic carbon nitride were hybridized for enhancement of photocatalytic activity.
• Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by decomposition of acetaldehyde under visible light.
• The composite sample could completely decompose acetaldehyde into CO2.
• The composite sample showed Z-scheme charge transfer under visible light.

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was prepared by heating melamine and then its specific surface area was enlarged by hydrothermal treatment in aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. The g-C3N4 samples were blended with tungsten(VI) oxide (WO3) using a planetary mill in order to improve photocatalytic activity. The composite photocatalyst with optimized amounts of these contents showed higher photocatalytic activity for decomposition of acetaldehyde under visible-light irradiation than did original samples. From the results, we concluded that the composite photocatalyst utilizes both high oxidation ability of WO3 and high reduction ability of g-C3N4 by Z-scheme charge transfer.

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