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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