Facile synthesis of nanorod-type graphitic carbon nitride/Fe2O3 composite with enhanced photocatalytic performance

•Nanorod-type graphitic carbon nitride/Fe2O3 composite (Fe2O3-g-C3N4) was synthesized.•Fe2O3-g-C3N4 showed strong optical absorption in the visible-light region.•The Fe2O3-g-C3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities.

Here we report a facile synthesis of nanorod-type graphitic carbon nitride/Fe2O3 composite (Fe2O3-g-C3N4) by using Fe-melamine supramolecular framework as precursor. The chemical and optical properties of the nanocomposites are well-characterized. The Fe2O3-g-C3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities under visible light due to the efficient utilization of sunlight and the construction of Z-scheme electron transfer pathway. The results indicated that it could be a promising approach for the preparation of efficient g-C3N4 nanocomposites photocatalysts by using metal-melamine supramolecular framework as precursors.

Graphical abstractNanorod-type graphitic carbon nitride/Fe2O3 composite (Fe2O3-g-C3N4) was synthesized by using Fe-melamine supramolecular framework as precursor. The Fe2O3-g-C3N4 nanocomposite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities under visible light.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide