Hybrid g-C3N4 nanosheet/carbon paper membranes for the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

A hybrid membrane successfully fabricated via chemical vapor deposition can be used as a visible-light photocatalyst to effectively degrade water-soluble methylene dye. High pyrolysis temperatures cause urea precursor to form thin g-C3N4 nanosheets and to grow on the surface of carbonized cellulose-based filter paper, which functions as a stable substrate and charge transfer carrier. Via oxygen plasma treatment, the hybrid membrane exhibits wettability in water, which is beneficial in terms of adsorbing organic pollutions. Consequently, as a static photocatalyst and flow-through membrane, it presents higher levels of photocatalytic activity for degrading methylene blue. Meanwhile, the hybrid membrane maintains a steady flux and high levels of degrade efficiency after 5 cycles under visible-light irradiation. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.