Fabrication of a hybrid phase TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction composite with enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of MB under visible light

The heterojunction structure of semiconductor photocatalysts is significant for making full use of their capabilities for organic molecules and dye degradation. In this paper, we present a heterogeneous junction composite fabricated with hybrid phase TiO2 and g-C3N4 for methylene blue (MB) removal through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The heterogeneous junction system was prepared by hydrothermal treatment with a subsequent pyrolysis process. The variation of the proportion and lattice structure of hybrid phase TiO2 in the synthesized catalysts was analyzed by refinement. Adsorption experiments showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of TiO2/g-C3N4 (1 : 10) was 1667 mg g(-1), which was 45.97 times and 63.78 times higher than that of TiO2 and g-C3N4, respectively. In the photodegradation process, the TiO2/g-C3N4 (1 : 10) photocatalyst shows a removal rate of MB of 100 mg L-1, which was as high as 96.262%, significantly higher than that of pure TiO2 and g-C3N4. Brunner-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurements and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the adsorption of MB onto TiO2/g-C3N4(1 : 10) was chemical adsorption, and OH, which acts as an active substance, was found to play a major role in the photocatalytic degradation process. Overall, the developed hybrid phase TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction composite may be beneficial for the treatment of water pollution.

Automated summary

The heterojunction composite of hybrid phase TiO2 and g-C3N4 was prepared and used for methylene blue (MB) removal through adsorption and photocatalytic degradation. The TiO2/g-C3N4 (1:10) composite exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacity and MB removal rate compared to pure TiO2 and g-C3N4. The developed heterojunction composite has potential advantages for water pollution treatment.