title: Immobilization of polymeric g-C3N4 on structured ceramic foam for efficient visible light photocatalytic air purification with real indoor illumination.
abstract: The immobilization of a photocatalyst on a proper support is pivotal for practical environmental applications. In this work, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) as a rising visible light photocatalyst was first immobilized on structured Al2O3 ceramic foam by a novel in situ approach. Immobilized g-C3N4 was applied for photocatalytic removal of 600 ppb level NO in air under real indoor illumination of an energy-saving lamp. The photocatalytic activity of immobilized g-C3N4 was gradually improved as the pyrolysis temperature was increased from 450 to 600 °C. The optimized conditions for g-C3N4 immobilization on Al2O3 supports can be achieved at 600 °C for 2 h. The NO removal ratio could reach up to 77.1%, exceeding that of other types of well-known immobilized photocatalysts. Immobilized g-C3N4 was stable in activity and can be used repeatedly without deactivation. The immobilization of g-C3N4 on Al2O3 ceramic foam was found to be firm enough to overwhelm the continuous air flowing, which can be ascribed to the special chemical interaction between g-C3N4 and Al2O3. On the basis of the 5,5'-dimethyl-1-pirroline-N-oxide electron spin resonance (DMPO ESR) spin trapping and reaction intermediate monitoring, the active species produced from g-C3N4 under illumination were confirmed and the reaction mechanism of photocatalytic NO oxidation by g-C3N4 was revealed. The present work could provide new perspectives for promoting large-scale environmental applications of supported photocatalysts.
authors.affiliation: Chongqing Key Laboratory of Catalysis and Functional Organic Molecules, College of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Chongqing Technology and Business University , Chongqing 400067, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Zhenyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuhan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wing-Kei
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis*; D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D002384:Catalysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D002516:Ceramics / Q000737:chemistry*; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides / Q000737:chemistry; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D008029:Lighting; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry; D009570:Nitriles / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D009570:Nitriles; D011108:Polymers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C011206:cyanogen; D006108:Graphite; D000537:Aluminum Oxide