Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Construction of novel ZnTiO3/g-C3N4 heterostructures with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for dye wastewater treatment

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, the crystalline and homogenous ZnTiO3 particles were first synthesized in KCl-NaCl eutectic chloride salts at 700–850 °C. Then the ZnTiO3 was successfully loaded onto g-C3N4 sheets to form ZnTiO3/g-C3N4 composites during the polymerization of melamine. Compared with pure g-C3N4, ZnTiO3/g-C3N4 composites have shown an obvious red shift phenomenon and enhanced light harvesting ability in the spectra range of 200–800 nm as well as much lower recombination rate of the photogenerated charge carriers. The ZTOCN1-800 samples exhibited a 1.69 times specific surface area as pure g-C3N4 by BET analysis, and a 76% degradation efficiency for methyl orange (MO) under visible light irradiation in 180 min, about 13 times as that of pure ZnTiO3 and 3 times as that of pure g-C3N4. Moreover, The ZTOCN1-800 samples achieved complete degradation of MB and RhB under visible light irradiation within 90 min. This is attributed to the intimate heterostructure interface between g-C3N4 and ZnTiO3 due to ZnTiO3 particles intercalation into the g-C3N4 sheets, which reduced the self-aggregation of the g-C3N4 sheets and greatly facilitated the charge transfer from photo-excited g-C3N4 to ZnTiO3. These were demonstrated by XRD, SEM, EDX, TEM, UV–Vis, PL and photoelectrochemical analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. Michael, Solar energy conversion by dye-sensitized photovoltaic cell. Inorg. Chem. 44, 6841–6851 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. W. Wang, M.O. Tade, Z.P. Shao, Research progress of perovskite materials in photocatalysis- and photovoltaics-related energy conversion and environmental treatment. Chem. Soc. Rev. 44, 5371–5408 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. K.S. Ranjith, P. Manivel, R.T. Rajendrakumar, T. Uyar, Multifunctional ZnO nanorod-reduced graphene oxide hybrid nanocomposites for effective water remediation: effective sunlight driven degradation of organic dyes and rapid heavy metal adsorption. Chem. Eng. J. 325, 588–600 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. T. Nonami, H. Hase, K. Funakoshi, Apatite-coated titanium dioxide photocatalyst for air purification. Catal. Today 96, 113–118 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. X.C. Zhang, D.F. Xu, Y.R. Jia, S.Y. Zhang, Fabrication of metal/semiconductor hybrid Ag/AgInO2 nanocomposites with enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties. RSC Adv. 7, 30392–30396 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A. Fujishima, K. Honda, Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nat. 238, 37–38 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Sakthivel, B. Neppolian, M.V. Shankar, B. Arabindoob, M. Palanichamyb, V. Murugesanb, Solar photocatalytic degradation of azo dye: comparison of photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO and TiO2. Sol Energy Mat. Sol. C. 77, 65–82 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Matsumura, Y. Saho, H. Tsubomura, Photocatalytic hydrogen production from solutions of sulfite using platinized cadmium sulfide powder. J. Phys. Chem. 87, 3807–3808 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. A. Mofareh, S.U.M. Khan, W.B. Ingler Jr, Efficient photochemical water splitting by a chemically modified n-TiO. Sci. 297, 2243–2245 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. U. Alam, A. Khan, W. Raza, D. Bahnemann, M. Muneer, Highly efficient Y and V co-doped ZnO photocatalyst with enhanced dye sensitized visible light photocatalytic activity. Catal. Today 284, 169–178 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. S.H. Lei, H.Q. Fan, X.H. Ren, J.W. Fang, L.T. Ma, Z.Y. Liu, Novel sintering and band gap engineering of ZnTiO3 ceramics with excellent microwave dielectric properties. J. Mater. Chem. C 5, 4040–4047 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. R.C. Pawar, S. Kang, J.H. Park, J.H. Kim, S. Ahn, C.S. Lee, Evaluation of a multi-dimensional hybrid photocatalyst for enrichment of H2 evolution and elimination of dye/non-dye pollutants. Catal. Sci. Technol. 7, 2579–2590 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. S.P. Wu, J.H. Luo, S.X. Cao, Microwave dielectric properties of B2O3-doped ZnTiO3 ceramics made with sol-gel technique. J. Alloy. Compd. 502, 147–152 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Y.S. Chang, Y.H. Chang, I.G. Chen, G.J. Chen, Y.L. Chai, Synthesis and characterization of zinc titanate nano-crystal powders by sol–gel technique. J. Cryst. Growth 243, 319–326 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. H.H. Ou, L.H. Lin, Y. Zheng, P.J. Yang, Y.X. Fang, X.C. Wang, Tri-s-triazine-based crystalline carbon nitride nanosheets for an improved hydrogen evolution. Adv. Mater. 29, 1–6 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. F. Ding, D. Yang, Z.W. Tong, Y.H. Nan, Y.J. Wang, X.Y. Zou, Z.Y. Jiang, Graphitic carbon nitride-based nanocomposites as visible-light driven photocatalysts for environmental purification. Environ. Sci.: Nano 4, 1455–1469 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  17. J.W. Fu, J.G. Yu, C.J. Jiang, B. Cheng, G-C3N4-Based heterostructured photocatalysts. Adv. Energy Mater. 8, 1–31 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  18. C.Y. Zhou, C. Lai, D.L. Huang, G.M. Zeng, C. Zhang, M. Cheng, L. Hu, J. Wan, W.P. Xiong, M. Wen, Highly porous carbon nitride by supramolecular preassembly of monomers for photocatalytic removal of sulfamethazine under visible light driven. Appl. Catal. B-Environ. 22, 202–210 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. J.D. Hu, D.Y. Chen, N.J. Li, Q.F. Xu, H. Li, J.H. He, J.M. Lu, 3D aerogel of graphitic carbon nitride modified with perylene imide and graphene oxide for highly efficient nitric oxide removal under visible light. Small 14, 1–10 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  20. B. Zhang, T.J. Zhao, W.J. Feng, Y.X. Liu, H.H. Wang, H. Su, L.B. Lv, X.H. Li, J.S. Chen, Polarized few-layer g-C3N4 as metal-free electrocatalyst for highly efficient reduction of CO2. Nano Res. 11, 2450–2459 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. L.F. Cui, Y.F. Liu, X.Y. Fang, C.C. Yin, S.S. Li, D. Sun, S.F. Kang, Scalable and clean exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride in NaClO solution: enriched surface active sites for enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution. Green Chem. 20, 1354–1361 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. C.W. Yang, J.Q. Qin, Z. Xue, M.Z. Ma, X.Y. Zhang, R.P. Liu, Rational design of carbon-doped TiO2 modified g-C3N4 via in-situ heat treatment for drastically improved photocatalytic hydrogen with excellent photostability. Nano Energy 41, 10403–10473 (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  23. T. Giannakopoulou, I. Papailias, N. Todorova, N. Boukos, Y. Liu, J.G. Yu, C. Trapalis, Tailoring the energy band gap and edges’ potentials of g-C3N4/TiO2 composite photocatalysts for NOx removal. Chem. Eng. J. 310, 571–580 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. X.W. Shi, M. Fujitsuka, S. Kim, T. Majima, Faster electron injection and more active sites for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution in g-C3N4/MoS2 hybrid. Small 14, 1–9 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  25. H. Tian, S.C. Wang, C. Zhang, J.P. Veder, J. Pan, M. Jaroniec, L.Z. Wang, J. Liu, Design and synthesis of porous ZnTiO3/TiO2 nanocages with heterojunctions for enhanced photocatalytic H2 production. J. Mater. Chem. A 5, 11615–11622 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. X.C. Liu, Molten salt synthesis of ZnTiO3, powders with around 100 nm grain size crystalline morphology. Mater. Lett. 80, 69–71 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. L. Ge, C.C. Han, X.L. Xiao, L.L. Guo, Y.J. Li, Enhanced visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of sulfur-doped polymeric g-C3N4 photocatalysts. Mater. Res. Bull. 48, 3919–3925 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Y.C. Pu, H.C. Fan, T.W. Liu, J.W. Chen, Methylamine lead bromide perovskite/protonated graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposites: interfacial charge carrier dynamics and photocatalysis. J. Mater. Chem. A 5, 25438–25449 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. M.S. Niasari, F. Soofivand, A.S. Nasab, M.S. Arani, A.Y. Faal, S. Bagheri, Synthesis, characterization, and morphological control of ZnTiO3 nanoparticles through sol-gel processes and its photocatalyst application. Adv. Powder Technol. 27, 2066–2075 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. H.M. Chen, Y.H. Xie, X.Q. Sun, M.L. Lv, F.F. Wu, L. Zhang, L. Li, X.X. Xu, Efficient charge separation based on type-II g-C3N4/TiO2-B nanowire/tube heterostructure photocatalysts. Dalton Trans. 44, 13030–13039 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. L.Q. Zhang, X. He, X.W. Xu, C. Liu, Y.L. Duan, L.Q. Hou, Q.D. Zhou, C. Ma, X.P. Yang, R. Liu, F. Yang, L.S. Cui, C.M. Xu, Y.F. Li, Highly active TiO2/g-C3N4/G photocatalyst with extended spectral response towards selective reduction of nitrobenzene. Appl. Catal. B-Environ. 203, 1–8 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. N. Tian, Y.H. Zhang, X.W. Li, K. Xiao, X. Du, F. Dong, G.I.N. Waterhouse, T.R. Zhang, H.W. Huang, Precursor-reforming protocol to 3D mesoporous g-C3N4 established by ultrathin self-doped nanosheets for superior hydrogen evolution. Nano Energy 38, 72–81 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Y.N. Shi, J.J. Chen, Z.Y. Mao, B.D. Fahlman, D.J. Wang, Construction of Z-scheme heterostructure with enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution for g-C3N4 nanosheets via loading porous silicon. J. Catal. 356, 22–31 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Q.Z. Luo, X.L. Yang, X.X. Zhao, D.S. Wang, R. Yin, X.Y. Li, An facile preparation of well-dispersed ZnO/cyclized polyacrylonitrile nanocomposites with highly enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. Appl. Catal. B-Environ. 204, 304–315 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. S. Vignesh, A.L. Muppudathi, J. Sridhar, J.K. Sundar, Construction of high efficient g-C3N4 nanosheets combined with Bi2MoO6-Ag photocatalysts for visible light driven photocatalytic activity and inactivation of bacterias. Arab. J. Chem. (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2018.05.009

    Google Scholar 

  36. D.L. Jiang, L.L. Chen, J.J. Zhu, M. Chen, W.D. Shi, J.M. Xie, Novel p–n heterojunction photocatalyst constructed by porous graphite-like C3N4 and nanostructured BiOI: facile synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Dalton Trans. 42, 15726 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. X.D. Zhang, H.X. Wang, H. Wang, Q. Zhang, J.F. Xie, Y.P. Tian, J. Wang, Y. Xie, Single-layered graphitic-C3N4 quantum dots for two-photon fluorescence imaging of cellular nucleus. Adv. Mater. 26, 4438–4443 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Z. Liu, H. Zheng, H.X. Yang, L. Hao, L. Wen, T.Z. Xu, S.Y. Wu, Mpg-C3N4/anatase TiO2 with reactive {001} facets composites to enhance the photocatalytic activity of organic dye degradation. RSC Adv. 6, 54215–54225 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Y.f. Liu, W.Q. Yao, D. Liu, R.L. Zong, M. Zhang, X.G. Ma, Y.F. Zhu, Enhancement of visible light mineralization ability and photocatalytic activity of BiPO4/BiOI. Appl. Catal. B-Environ. 163, 547–553 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. K. Huang, Y.Z. Hong, X. Yan, C.Y. Huang, J.B. Chen, M.Y. Chen, W.D. Shi, C.B. Liu, Hydrothermal synthesis of g-C3N4/CdWO4 nanocomposite and enhanced photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation under visible light. CrystEngComm 18, 6453–6463 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Y.J. Cui, J.H. Huang, X.Z. Fu, X.C. Wang, Metal-free photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol in water by mesoporous carbon nitride semiconductors. Catal. Sci. Technol. 2, 1396–1402 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. S. Saha, J.M. Wang, A. Pal, Nano silver impregnation on commercial TiO2 and a comparative photocatalytic account to degrade malachite green. Sep. Purif. Technol. 89, 147–159 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. S. Vignesh, A.L. Muppudathi, J.K. Sundar, Multifunctional performance of gC3N4-BiFeO3-Cu2O hybrid nanocomposites for magnetic separable photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 29, 10784–10801 (2018)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51774145).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Jinyang Zhuang and Bei Zhang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Jinyang Zhuang, Bei Zhang & Shiyou Guan

  2. School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai, 200237, China

    Qiang Wang & Bing Li

  3. Institute for Sustainable Energy, Shanghai University, No. 99, Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Shiyou Guan

Authors
  1. Jinyang Zhuang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Qiang Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shiyou Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Shiyou Guan or Bing Li.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 1031 KB)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhuang, J., Zhang, B., Wang, Q. et al. Construction of novel ZnTiO3/g-C3N4 heterostructures with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for dye wastewater treatment. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 30, 6322–6334 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-00932-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-00932-x

Search

Navigation