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Growth of ZnO Nanorods on Graphitic Carbon Nitride gCN Sheets for the Preparation of Photocatalysts with High Visible‐Light Activity
Author(s) -
Moussa Hatem,
Chouchene Bilel,
Gries Thomas,
Balan Lavinia,
Mozet Kevin,
Medjahdi Ghouti,
Schneider Raphaël
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201801206
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , materials science , nanorod , photoluminescence , graphitic carbon nitride , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , photocurrent , visible spectrum , dielectric spectroscopy , charge carrier , chemical engineering , photochemistry , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemistry , electrode , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering
The light photoresponse, the separation of photogenerated charge carriers and the specific surface area are of great importance for the development of semiconductor‐based photocatalysts. We report the anchorage of small‐sized ZnO nanorods with a length of ca. 38 nm at the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) sheets. The gCN loading in the ZnO/gCN composites was varied and the materials characterized by TEM, XRD, XPS, BET and UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The ZnO/gCN (10 %) composite exhibits a high photocatalytic activity for the degradation of dyes (Orange II, Resazurin and Reactive Black 5) under visible light irradiation of low intensity (2.5 mW/cm 2 ) and for salicylic acid under simulated sunlight irradiation (5 mW/cm 2 ). These results are supported by photoluminescence, photocurrent and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements. The photocatalytic activity originates from synergistic effects in ZnO/gCN composites including a high specific surface area (60.4 m 2 /g), an enhanced visible light absorption capacity and the charge carriers separation. The ZnO/gCN photocatalyst exhibits a high stability and could be reused up to ten times with no loss of efficiency. A mechanism is proposed for the degradation of dyes using the ZnO/gCN composites.