Synthesis of Heterostructure g-C3N4/h-MoO3 with Enhanced Photoactivity: Influencing Factors and Mechanism Insight

The g-C3N4/h-MoO3 composite photocatalyst was fabricated through a simple mixed evaporation and subsequent annealing process. This composite showed high improvement and well stability of photocatalytic activity for antibiotics CIP degradation. The improved photodegradation activity was due to the broadened light absorption and more efficient charge separation. It is expected that the prepared g-C3N4/h-MoO3 heterostructure composites could be employed as a promising photocatalyst for wastewater remediation. Photocatalytic degradation is an attractive technology for treating the growing environmental problems. In this work, the g-C3N4/h-MoO3 composite photocatalyst was fabricated through a simple mixed evaporation and subsequent annealing process. The prepared g-C3N4/h-MoO3 composites show enhanced photocatalytic performance compared with pristine h-MoO3 and g-C3N4 as well as their physical mixture. The apparent rate constants for tetracycline (TC) degradation of the C-M3 composite are estimated to be 0.01273 min(-1), which is 8.43 and 3.13 times as high as that of MoO3 and g-C3N4, respectively. The improved photodegradation activity is due to the broadened light absorption and more efficient charge separation. Therefore, a faster generation rate of superoxide radical (center dot O-2(-)) and hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) is observed in the composites. According to the trapping experiments, the center dot O-2(-) and photogenerated holes (h(+)) are the predominant active species in the photocatalytic degradation process, while the center dot OH plays a negligible role. Notably, due to the matched band structure, a direct Z-scheme g-C3N4/h-MoO3 heterojunction is formed, which is verified by radical trapping experiments and density functional theory simulation. It is expected that the prepared heterostructure composties coud be employed as a promising photocatalyst for wastewater remediation.

Automated summary

The g-C3N4/h-MoO3 composite photocatalyst was prepared through a mixed evaporation and subsequent annealing process, showing high improvement and stability in photocatalytic activity for antibiotics degradation. The enhanced photodegradation activity is attributed to broadened light absorption and efficient charge separation, indicating potential application in wastewater remediation.