Facile synthesis hierarchical porous structure anatase-rutile TiO2/g-C3N4 composite for efficient photodegradation tetracycline hydrochloride

The anatase-rutile TiO2/g-C3N4 (denoted as ARC) photocatalyst with hierarchical porous structure is synthesized via an impregnation-calcination method utilizing TiCl4 and melamine as precursor. The content of g-C3N4, and the relative content of the anatase and rutile in ARC can be regulated via controlling the dosage of melamine. Furthermore, the highly acidic environment producing by hydrochloric acid which is generated via hydrolysis reaction of TiCl4 has significantly impact for forming the hierarchical porous structure of ARC. Comparing with g-C3N4, the specific surface area of ARC-5 (61.2 m(2).g(-1)) is 7.2 times than that of g-C3N4. Among all the resultant composites, the ARC-5 exhibits the highest visible-light photocatalytic property for degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl, 10 mg.L-1). The degradation rate of TC-HC1 is 92% in 60 min with ARC-5 as photocatalyst, and the kinetic constant (k) of ARC-5 is 4.4 times than that of g-C3N4. The favorable catalytic property of ARC-5 should be attributed to the close-knit interface contact and high surface area, which could broaden the spectra absorption range, facilitate the carriers separation, provide more active sites and enhance the transfer rate of reactant and product. Moreover, radical trapping experiments shows that h(+) and center dot O-2(-) have vital function for degrading TC-HCl.

Automated summary

The anatase-rutile TiO2/g-C3N4 (denoted as ARC) photocatalyst with hierarchical porous structure was synthesized using TiCl4 and melamine as precursors through an impregnation-calcination method. Controlling the dosage of melamine can regulate the content of g-C3N4 and the relative content of anatase and rutile in ARC. ARC-5 exhibited the highest visible-light photocatalytic property for degrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl), with a degradation rate of 92% in 60 minutes and a kinetic constant 4.4 times higher than g-C3N4.