title: Enhancing visible light photocatalytic activity of nitrogen-deficient g-C3N4via thermal polymerization of acetic acid-treated melamine.
abstract: Nitrogen-deficient graphitic carbon nitride (CN-HAc) was synthesized by thermal condensation of acetic acid-treated melamine as a precursor. The nitrogen vacancies play a remarkable role on controlling the electronic structure of g-C3N4, such as extending the optical absorption and enhancing the separation efficiency of photogenerated charge carriers, resulting in the improvement of photocatalytic activity. The photocatalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated by splitting water and degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation (λ>420nm). The average H2evolution rate on CN-HAc is 24μmolh-1, which is about 5 times of that on pristine g-C3N4. Meanwhile, CN-HAc exhibits superior photocatalytic mineralization of RhB. The possible formation mechanism of nitrogen-deficient in the framework of g-C3N4is proposed.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Cheng-Qun
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, 381 Wushan Road, Guangzhou 510640, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhangwd@scut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei-De
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Zhang
keywords: Acetic acid; Electronic structure; Nitrogen vacancy; g-C(3)N(4)