Polyaniline/Carbon Nitride Nanosheets Composite Hydrogel: A Separation-Free and High-Efficient Photocatalyst with 3D Hierarchical Structure

A polyaniline (PANI)/carbon nitride nanosheets (CNNS) composite hydrogel with 3D hierarchical nanostructure is synthesized via in situ polymerization. The 3D hierarchical structure is robust and stable, making the composite hydrogel separation-free and easy to recycling. It is highly excellent in removing organic pollutant for PANI/CNNS composite hydrogel on account of the cooperation of adsorptive preconcentration and the following photocatalytic oxidation. Pollutants are first adsorbed and concentrated into the 3D hierarchical nanostructure of the composite hydrogel. Then the pollutants are in situ oxidized via photocatalysis. The promoted photocatalytic performance can be mainly ascribed to the outstanding interfacial charge separation and photoelectrochemical performance. A new idea of the construction of 3D hierarchical photocatalysts is presented, which can be applied in the sustainability field.