Simulated Solar Light Responsive Carbon Nitride/ TiO 2 Nanofiber Heterojunction Photocatalyst: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Performance

A carbon nitride/ TiO 2 nanofiber heterojunction photocatalyst that is responsive to simulated solar light is prepared by a simple self‐assembly method. X‐ray diffraction ( XRD ), UV –vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy ( SEM ), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy ( EIS ), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy ( XPS ) are used to characterize the prepared catalysts. The results indicate that the TiO 2 nanofiber is coated by the g‐ C 3 N 4 sheet to form a core/shell structure, which is favorable for the fast interfacial charge transfer and separation of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. The activity and stability of carbon nitride/ TiO 2 nanofiber heterojunction photocatalyst are tested in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B ( RhB ) under simulated solar light. The rate constant of TiNF (0.3)‐ CN is found to be 0.044 min −1 , which is 4 and 2.2 times higher than that of single TiO 2 nanofiber and g‐ C 3 N 4 , respectively. A possible mechanism is proposed.