Synthesis of mesoporous graphitic C3N4 using cross-linked bimodal mesoporous SBA-15 as a hard template

•Mesoporous graphitic C3N4 was prepared via a hard templating route.•A novel cross-linked bimodal mesoporous SBA-15 is used as a hard template.•Numerous mesopore openings are formed on the surfaces of mesoporous g-C3N4.•Mesoporous g-C3N4 shows a high specific surface area and a large pore volume.•Mesoporous g-C3N4 exhibits the high photocatalytic performance with visible light.

Mesoporous graphitic C3N4 has been synthesized using a novel cross-linked bimodal mesoporous (CLBM) SBA-15 as a hard template. This cross-linked bimodal mesoporous SBA-15 template was prepared by adjusting the pH to alter the copolymer micelle size. The resulting mesoporous g-C3N4 replicates the morphology of the mesoporous silica template, and numerous pore openings are formed on the surfaces. The mesoporous g-C3N4 exhibits a high specific surface area and a large pore volume. The photocatalytic degradation activity of methyl orange on mesoporous g-C3N4 is nearly 15.3 times as high as that on bulk-g-C3N4 under visible light irradiation. The high photocatalytic performance of this sample is due to the high specific surface area and more readily accessible active sites.

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