Inorganic–organic photocatalyst BiPO4/g-C3N4 for efficient removal of gaseous toluene under visible light irradiation

•BiPO4/g-C3N4 had been successfully synthesized by wet impregnation with calcination.•The BiPO4/g-C3N4 had large surface area and strong absorption in visible light.•The highest removal efficiency of toluene was 82% in 4 h using the BiPO4-g-C3N4.

BiPO4/g-C3N4 with different amounts of BiPO4 was prepared through wet impregnation with calcination method. The BiPO4/g-C3N4 showed large surface area (172.9 m2 g− 1) and the incorporation of BiPO4 caused a red-shift of g-C3N4 in visible light. The photocatalytic degradation of toluene over the samples was investigated. The degradation of toluene could get 82% in BiPO4/g-C3N4 photocatalysts under optimum reaction conditions. The BiPO4/g-C3N4 exhibited a higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3N4 or BiPO4. The improved photoactivity of BiPO4/g-C3N4 could be attributed to strong absorption in visible light and effective separation of photo-induced hole-electron pairs between BiPO4 and g-C3N4.

Graphical abstractBiPO4/g-C3N4 was fabricated by wet impregnation with calcination method and showed high photocatalytic activity under visible light.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide