rGO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with an enhanced catalytic activity for NO removal

Nitrogen oxide emissions have caused serious harm to the environment and human health. Photocatalytic technology is a new environmental protection technology with great development potential. A rGO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with high catalytic activity was prepared by an optimal preparation method. According to the results of microscopic characterization and NO removal tests, the enhancement mechanism of photocatalytic activity was analyzed. When rGO content was 1.0% of the mass of g-C3N4, the NO removal efficiency was 24.18% higher than that of pure g-C3N4. The analysis showed that rGO did not destroy the crystal structure of g-C3N4, but broadened its light response range, improved the absorption intensity of ultraviolet-visible light and provided more active sites for photocatalytic reactions due to the large specific surface area of rGO. In addition, photo-induced electrons of g-C3N4 transferred the surface of rGO rapidly in view of the strong conductivity of rGO and the interaction of ?-? stacking and hydrogen bond between g-C3N4 and rGO, which reduced the recombination probability of electron-hole pairs effectively. This work provided a promising photocatalyst for effectively controlling the NOX emission.