Highly Efficient and Exceptionally Durable Photooxidation Properties on Co3O4/g-C3N4 Surfaces

Water pollution is a significant social issue that endangers human health. The technology for the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water can directly utilize solar energy and has a promising future. A novel Co3O4/g-C3N4 type-II heterojunction material was prepared by hydrothermal and calcination strategies and used for the economical photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in water. Benefitting the development of type-II heterojunction structure, the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes in 5% Co3O4/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was accelerated, leading to a degradation rate 5.8 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The radical capturing experiments and ESR spectra indicated that the main active species are center dot O-2(-) and h(+). This work will provide possible routes for exploring catalysts with potential for photocatalytic applications.

Automated summary

Water pollution is a serious issue that poses threats to human health. The use of solar energy for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants in water has a promising future. In this study, a novel Co3O4/g-C3N4 type-II heterojunction material was prepared and utilized for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) in water. The incorporation of type-II heterojunction structure facilitated the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes, leading to a degradation rate 5.8 times higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The main active species were identified as center dot O-2(-) and h(+) through radical capturing experiments and ESR spectra. This work provides possible routes for exploring catalysts with potential for photocatalytic applications.