Porous graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets for photocatalytic degradation of formaldehyde gas

In this work, the porous g-C3N4 nanosheet with enhanced photocatalytic performance can be easily obtained using a two step strategy by treating melamine with organic acids and aldehydes. The photocatalytic performance of the samples was evaluated by the formation of carbon dioxide from formaldehyde under LED lamp irradiation. The photocatalytic activity of porous g-C3N4 nanosheet was improved significantly which the possible mechanism is that formaldehyde molecules are more easily adsorbed around the hole. This behavior reduces the carrier diffusion distance and increases the probability of photocatalytic reaction. The photocatalytic activity provides many reactive sites for formaldehyde.

Automated summary

In this study, porous g-C3N4 nanosheets with enhanced photocatalytic performance were easily obtained by treating melamine with organic acids and aldehydes. The improved photocatalytic activity was attributed to increased adsorption of formaldehyde around holes, reducing carrier diffusion distance and increasing reaction probability. This provided numerous reactive sites for formaldehyde.