Synthesis of g-C3N4/SmVO4 composite photocatalyst with improved visible light photocatalytic activities in RhB degradation

Authors: Tingting Li, Leihong Zhao, Yiming He, Jun Cai, Mengfei Luo, Jianjun Lin

Abstract:
This paper reported novel graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and SmVO₄ composite photocatalysts which were prepared through a simple mixing–calcination method. Multiple techniques, such as Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA), Xray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy were applied to investigate the physical and photophysical properties of the catalysts. The XRD and FT-IR results indicate that the prepared sample is a two-phase composite of SmVO₄ and g-C3N4. The TG–DTA result suggests that the real g-C₃N₄ concentration in the composite is lower than the theoretical value due to the catalysis of SmVO₄. The DRS result shows that the addition of SmVO₄ to g-C₃N₄ slightly changes the optical properties. The photocatalytic activity of the novel composite was investigated using rhodamine B (RhB) as a target pollutant. Results show that the g-C₃N₄/SmVO₄ photocatalysts exhibit a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in degrading RhB. The optimal SmVO₄ concentration and calcination temperature were also determined. Based on the band position, the synergetic effect of SmVO₄ and g-C₃N₄ is the source of the enhanced photocatalytic activity, as proven by PL spectroscopy and transient photocurrent response.

Keywords:
Photocatalytic activity
g-C₃N₄
SmVO₄
Photoluminescence

Published in: Applied catalysis B: Environmental  (Volume 129, Pages 1-614, 17 January 2013)

Publisher: Elsevier  

ISSN Information: 0926-3373

Synthesis of g-C3N4/SmVO4 composite photocatalyst with improved visible light photocatalytic activities in RhB degradation

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