Regular ArticleNon-metal photocatalyst nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes modified mpg-C3N4: facile synthesis and the enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity

Nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNT) is a promising metal-free candidate and electronic acceptor. It has been employed to modify mesoporous carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) for photocatalytic degradation of organic dye and antibiotics under visible-light irradiation. Herein, we report a facile synthesis strategy involving polymerization of cyanamide as the precursor in the presence of N-CNT via thermal polycondensation. The morphology and structure of as-prepared N-CNT/mpg-C3N4 were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The N-CNT/mpg-C3N4-15 exhibited increased photocatalytic activity for rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) degradation compared with the pure one under visible-light irradiation, which is mainly due to the efficiently separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs for the introduction of N-CNT as electronic acceptor. The photocatalytic reaction can fit the first order kinetics. Additionally, superoxide radical (O2−) was regarded as main reactive species participating in the photodegradation reaction process. Furthermore, the reason for enhancing photocatalytic activity of N-CNT/mpg-C3N4 is mainly attributed to synergistic effects between mpg-C3N4 as main ingredient and N-CNT as electron acceptor.

Graphical abstractWe report a facile synthesis strategy involving polymerization of cyanamide as the precursor in the presence of N-CNT via thermal polycondensation. The N-CNT/mpg-C3N4 exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for Rhodamine B (RhB), Methyl orange (MO) and Tetracycline (TC) degradation compared with the pure one under visible-light irradiation, which is mainly due to the efficiently separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs for the introduction of N-CNT as electronic transfer channels. The photocatalytic reaction can fit as first order kinetics. Additionally, superoxide radical (O2•−) was regarded as main reactive species participate in the photodegradation reaction process. Furthermore, the proposed mechanism for enhancing photocatalytic activity of N-CNT/mpg-C3N4 is attributed to synergistic effects between mpg-C3N4 as main ingredient and N-CNT as transfer media.Download high-res image (217KB)Download full-size image