Journal of Inorganic Materials, Volume. 35, Issue 12, 1340(2020)
To clarify the effect of N sources on the photocatalytic reduction of Re (VII) in amorphous TiO2/g-C3N4 (TCN) composites, g-C3N4 were prepared via a thermal decomposition of three precursors (Urea, Thiourea and Melamine). Three kinds of TCN composite photocatalysts were then prepared by recombining with amorphous TiO2 separately. All three photocatalysts were characterized by differnent methods, and their differences in photocatalytic reduction of Re(VII) were compared in detail. The experimental results show that U-TCN using urea as the N source has more uniform appearance, the largest specific surface area (474 m2/g), and the most excellent light absorption performance, leading to its photocatalytic reduction efficiency (90%) for Re (VII) being significantly higher than T-TCN (20%) and M-TCN (15%). Transient photocurrent and electrochemical impedance (EIS) analyses prove that U-TCN exhibits the highest efficiency of photo-generated electron/holes separation. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) analysis shows that U-TCN generates more hydroxyl radicals (·OH), so that there are stronger reducing ·CO2 radicals produced by the reaction with formic acid, which is more conducive to the reduction of Re (VII). X-ray absorption spectra are employed to analyze the valence state and coordination environment of Ti element, which demonstrates an excellent photochemical stability of U-TCN. The study not only illustrates the effects of N sources on the photocatalytic performance of TCN composites, but also provides a promising photocatalyst for reduction and removal of Tc(VII) from waste water.
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Xucong WANG, Hao DENG, Zhongyi JIANG, Liyong YUAN.
Category: RESEARCH PAPER
Received: Mar. 16, 2020
Accepted: --
Published Online: Mar. 10, 2021
The Author Email: JIANG Zhongyi (zhyjiang@tju.edu.cn), YUAN Liyong (yuanly@ihep.ac.cn)