Copper Phthalocyanine-Functionalized Graphitic Carbon Nitride: A Hybrid Heterostructure toward Photoelectrochemical and Photocatalytic Degradation Applications

In this work, alcian blue 8GX (AB), a copper(II) phthalocyanine derivative, was employed to functionalize graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for the preparation of a highly efficient photocatalyst. The approach relies on a facile AB-assisted ethanol/water mixed-solvent exfoliation of bulk g-C3N4. The as-prepared g-C3N4/AB hybrid possesses significantly enhanced solution dispersibility and photoelectrochemical performance resulting from the synergistic effect between g-C3N4 and AB, which involves the optimization of intimate interfacial contact, extension of light absorption range, and enhancement of charge-transfer efficiency. This synergy contributes enormously to the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine6G (R6G) under light irradiation.