Synthesis, structure and photocatalytic properties of benzo[ghi] perylenetriimide/graphitic carbon nitride composite

Covalent-bond-link benzo[ghi]perylenetriimide/graphitic carbon nitride (BPTI/g-C3N4) was synthesized by N-amidation reaction of benzo[ghi]perylene diimide tris-anhydride (BPDI) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). BPTI/g-C3N4 composite possesses more compact p-n heterojunction with high electron-hole separation rate and loose structure because of the alkyl chains and unilateral active groups of BPDI. The composite was characterized with different methods, including FT-IR, XPS, XRD, SEM and TG which illustrated the content of BPTI in composite attain to 5.6%. The photocatalytic experiments on the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) indicated that the photocatalytic activity of BPTI/g-C3N4 performed 3 times as well as that of pure g-C3N4.