Unique g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 homojunction with synergistic piezo-photocatalytic effect for aquatic contaminant control and H2O2 generation under visible light

Herein, a g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 homojunction has been fabricated for piezo-photocatalytic atrazine removal and exhibited better performance than individual photocatalysis or piezocatalysis. The introduction of PDI induces the 7C-7C interaction facilitating electrons migration, and twists the g-C3N4 plane into a more polar porous structure with enhanced piezoelectricity. The homojunction facilitates the photoelectron transfer at the g-C3N4/PDI-gC3N4 interfaces. The photoelectricity and the piezoelectricity of g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 were assessed. The finite element simulation showed that the porous structure of the g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 is essential to the enhanced piezoelectricity. Astonishingly, the piezo-photocatalytic atrazine degradation rate under an optimized condition (pH=2.97) reached 94% within 60 min. Moreover, the g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 homojunction produced 625.54 mu M H2O2 during the one-hour piezo-photocatalysis. Given the quenching experiments, reactive species detection and the electronic band of g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4, the piezo-photocatalytic mechanism has been proposed. In addition, the degradation pathways and the reduced intermediates toxicity intermediates of atrazine have been investigated.

Automated summary

In this study, a g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 homojunction was fabricated for piezo-photocatalytic atrazine removal, demonstrating superior performance compared to individual photocatalysis or piezocatalysis. The introduction of PDI facilitated electron migration and enhanced piezoelectricity, with the homojunction promoting photoelectron transfer. The porous structure of the g-C3N4/PDI-g-C3N4 was found to be essential for the enhanced piezoelectricity, leading to a high atrazine degradation rate and H2O2 production during the piezo-photocatalytic process.