0D/1D Co3O4 quantum dots/surface hydroxylated g-C3N4 nanofibers heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising candidate for photocatalytic degradation of emerging environmental contaminants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). To improve the photodegradation performance of pure g-C3N4 , the construction of different heterostructures, surface modification and morphology engineering could be considered. However, the surface of g-C(3)N(4 )is usually difficult to modify due to fewer functional groups on its surface. In this work, surface hydroxylated g-C(3)N(4 )nanofibers were prepared by NaOH treatment (NTCN), and then went through an in-situ growth method to obtain 0D/1D Co3O4 -NTCN nano composites. Hydrolysis can effectively modify the surface of g-C(3)N(4 )to make it rich in hydroxyl and reduce the number of amino groups, which is conducive to photocatalytic activity. Surface hydroxylation of NTCN was confirmed by FTIR and XPS. Structurally, Co3O4 -NTCN has a unique 0D / 1D structure, which has not been reported much on photocatalysts based on carbon nitride, providing a large surface area and short diffusion distances and resulting in more exposure to the light and the effective transfer of interfacial photogenerated charge from the interior to the surface. The photodegradation ratio of TC, DCF and MT can reach 97.3% TC, 88.9% and 63.2% within 60 min respectively. DFT calculation is used to illustrate the band structure and separation and migration of photoinduced charges of Co3O4 -NTCN composites. Radicals trapping test demonstrate O-2(center dot-) and .OH are the major radicals, and a possible Z-scheme mechanism is proposed.

Automated summary

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising photocatalytic material for degrading pollutants. This study focuses on modifying the surface of g-C3N4 to enhance its photocatalytic activity. By treating g-C3N4 with NaOH, surface hydroxylated nanofibers were obtained, which were then used to create 0D/1D Co3O4-NTCN nanocomposites. The modified g-C3N4 showed improved photodegradation performance, and the unique structure of the nanocomposites enhanced light exposure and charge transfer. The results demonstrated high photodegradation ratios for various pollutants within a short time.