Two-dimensional graphene/g-C3N4 in-plane hybrid heterostructure for enhanced photocatalytic activity with surface-adsorbed pollutants assistant

A two-dimensional graphene/g-C3N4 in-plane hybrid heterostructure (DCN-C-8), which achieved similar to 32.0-fold enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance for pollutant degradation compared to bulk g-C3N4, was prepared by a self-conversion process. The characterizations indicated that graphene was stitched onto the edge of carbon nitride, not only extending the photoabsorption to energies below intrinsic bandgap, but also strengthening the interaction between pollutants and catalyst surface by pi-pi and hydrogen bonds. The stronger interaction promoted the polarization of charge distribution of DCN-C-8 to further enhance the separation and transfer of photogenerated e-/h(+), providing an efficient pathway for electron transfer from pollutants to DCN-C-8. Both interfacial electron transfer processes were verified that the photoexcited electrons are rapidly transferred from carbon nitride part to graphene by pi-conjugated bond-stitched structure and trapped by O-2 to generate (center dot)O(2)(-)for degradation of pollutants. Meanwhile, adsorbed pollutants is decomposed by transferring electrons to the positive holes on the valence band of DCN-C-g.