Single platinum atoms anchored on holy carbon nitride for efficient photodegradation of sulfonylurea herbicide

The photocatalytic performances of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) are dramatically limited by rapid charge carriers' combination and the low utilization of photo-excited electrons and holes thereafter. To address this, we employed a wet impregnation approach to anchor single platinum atoms onto holy carbon nitride nanosheets (PtSA-HCNNS). The X-ray absorption fine structure and density functional theory calculations illustrated that PtSA-HCNNS was equipped with Pt-N4 coordination, which was favorable for oxygen absorption and the generation of reactive oxidation species. As a result, PtSA-HCNNS exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for evolving reactive species and degrading herbicide (halosulfuron-methyl) than pristine GCN and Pt cluster-decorated GCN. In addition, PtSA-HCNNS was capable of simultaneously removing five commonly used sulfonylurea herbicides and reducing their phytotoxicity toward soybean seedlings. This work offers a facile approach to developing high-performance porous carbon nitride with single Pt doping for sustainable photocatalytic purification.

Automated summary

The photocatalytic performance of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) is limited by the combination of charge carriers and the low utilization of photo-excited electrons and holes. The researchers successfully anchored single platinum atoms onto holy carbon nitride nanosheets (PtSA-HCNNS) through a wet impregnation approach. The PtSA-HCNNS exhibited enhanced photocatalytic activity for degrading herbicides and reducing their phytotoxicity. This study provides a facile method for developing high-performance porous carbon nitride for sustainable photocatalytic purification.