Synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride from different precursors by fractional thermal polymerization method and their visible light induced photocatalytic activities

Graphitic carbon nitride(g-C3N4) polymer was successfully synthesized by a fractional thermal polymerization method using melamine, guanidine carbonate and dicyandiamide as precursors. The detailed characterization was carried out by TG-DTG, XRD, SEM, PL, DRS, XPS and BET. The photocatalytic performance was determined by degradation of methyl orange(MO) under visible light irradiation. g-C3N4 obtained from different raw materials and temperature showed different band gap, morphology and photocatalytic activities. The g-C3N4 could be obtained by the polymerization reaction of melamine, guanidine carbonate or dicyandiamide at 515, 550 or 515 degrees C, respectively. The treatment temperature affected the final properties of the g-C3N4 particles. The g-C3N4-M(melamine, 600 degrees C), g-C3N4D(dicyandiamide, 590 degrees C) and g-C3N4-G (guanidine carbonate, 550 degrees C) particles showed the best MO degradation photocatalytic performances under visible light irradiation (> 400 nm) for 120min. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.