Soft-template assisted construction of superstructure TiO2/SiO2/g-C3N4 hybrid as efficient visible-light photocatalysts to degrade berberine in seawater via an adsorption-photocatalysis synergy and mechanism insight

In this work, hybrid TiO2/SiO2/g-C3N4 composite with superstructure (UTSCN) was successfully fabricated via ternary-soft-template method. The morphology of the photocatalysts has been investigated by SEM, TEM and EDS elemental mapping. These characterization results have indicated that UTSCN was comprised of ternary hybrid flower-like microsphere and porous tube. UTSCN with unique superstructure exhibits enhancing synergistic effect of adsorption and in-situ photodegradation ability for removing berberine hydrochloride (BH) in seawater solution. In static reaction, the synergistic removal rate of UTSCN is 2.63 time than that of g-C3N4 after 60 min of visible light irradiation. UTSCN also achieved an effective performance in the continuous flow reaction. The brilliant adsorption capability of UTSCN is attributed to the dual adsorption effect of superstructure and SiO2 component. Besides, its excellent photocatalytic activity is ascribed to both the novel morphology and the heterogeneous structure.