Synthesis of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 Composites for Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and tungsten incorporated SBA-15 (W-SBA-15) hybrid materials were prepared by a facial thermal polymerization method using dicyandiamide as a precursor and W-SBA-15 as a support. The as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS). The catalytic properties of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 composites were assessed by degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under simulated solar light irradiation. Results from characterizations revealed that the addition of g-C3N4 to W-SBA-15 could apparently improve the photocatalytic degradation properties. Among these catalysts, g-C3N4(3.0)/W-SBA-15 exhibited the highest catalytic activity, which was almost 4.3 times greater than that of W-SBA-15(.) The enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 may be due to the formation of heterojunction between g-C3N4 and tungsten species, resulting in the effective separation of photo-generated charge carriers and increased absorption of visible light. Moreover, the g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 composite had high cycling reusability and stability, which was an important factor for its potential actual applications.

Automated summary

The addition of g-C3N4 to W-SBA-15 was found to significantly improve the photocatalytic degradation properties, with the g-C3N4(3.0)/W-SBA-15 exhibiting the highest catalytic activity, nearly 4.3 times greater than that of W-SBA-15. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/W-SBA-15 is attributed to the formation of heterojunction between g-C3N4 and tungsten species, leading to effective separation of photo-generated charge carriers and increased absorption of visible light.