Exfoliated Boron Nitride (e-BN) Tailored Exfoliated Graphitic Carbon Nitride (e-CN): An Improved Visible Light Mediated Photocatalytic Approach towards TCH Degradation and H2 Evolution

A series of 2D/2D exfoliated boron nitride/exfoliated g-C3N4 nanocomposites denoted as e-BN/e-CN have been successfully prepared using a simple in situ technique. The successful deposition of e-BN on e-CN was confirmed from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis. According to electrochemical measurements, 1.5 wt % e-BN/e-CN nano-composites showed 1.5 times more photocurrent than e-CN, which indicates the successful formation of an e-BN/e-CN heterostructure. The photocatalytic activities of the e-CN and e-BN/e-CN composites were investigated through photocatalytic tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation and H-2 evolution under visible light illumination. The 1.5 wt % e-BN/e-CN composite demonstrated the highest photocatalytic activities, which are about 21 and 1.5 fold greater than e-CN towards H-2 generation with an apparent conversion efficiency of 2.34% and TCH degradation, respectively. The improved photocatalytic activities of e-BN/e-CN photocatalysts were ascribed to the augmented light-harvesting ability and enhanced separation efficiency of charge carriers. Lower photoluminescence intensity and a smaller arc value in the impedance spectra again proved the reduced recombination of the e(-)-h(+) pairs in the e-BN/e-CN nanocomposites. Trapping experiments show that O-center dot(2)-, h(+), and (OH)-O-center dot radicals are the predominant reactive species that accelerated the photocatalytic activities of e-BN/e-CN composites. This study opens up a new window towards the fabrication of such 2D/2D nanocomposites in the field of photocatalysis.

Automated summary

A series of e-BN/e-CN nanocomposites were successfully prepared using a simple in situ technique, with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy confirming the successful deposition of e-BN on e-CN. Electrochemical measurements showed that the 1.5 wt % e-BN/e-CN nanocomposites exhibited 1.5 times more photocurrent than e-CN, indicating the formation of a successful e-BN/e-CN heterostructure. The enhanced photocatalytic activities of the e-BN/e-CN photocatalysts were attributed to improved light-harvesting ability and enhanced charge carrier separation efficiency.