Black TiO2-g-C3N4 heterojunction coupled with MOF (ZIF-67)-derived Co3S4/ nitrogen-doped carbon hollow nanobox

In this research, the ultrasound (US) technique was applied as a facile synthesis method for preparing the black TiO2-g-C3N4 type II heterojunction, coupled with a Schottky junction MOF (ZIF-67)-derived x wt% Co3S4/nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) (x = 3, 10, and 15) with hollow nanobox (HNB) morphology, as a smart nanoheteroarchitecture (NHA) photocatalyst to enhance visible-light photocatalytic activity. Additionally, the solvothermal synthesis route was employed to fabricate the MOF (ZIF-67)-derived Co3S4/NC cubic hollow nanoboxes (CHNBs) before the pyrolysis process. The black TiO2-g-C3N4 wt% Co3S4/NC (TiCN-15% CoS/NC) NHAs exhibited high photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue. The synergetic effect of all components in black TiCN-x wt% CoS/NC NHAs resulted in efficient electron-hole pair separation and charge mobility on Co3S4/NC HNB and g-C3N4 surfaces, which led to a highly effective recombination rate of charge carriers and an excellent improvement in photocatalytic performance.

Automated summary

In this study, a facile synthesis method using ultrasound technique and solvothermal synthesis route was utilized to prepare a smart nanoheteroarchitecture photocatalyst with black TiO2-g-C3N4 type II heterojunction. The black TiCN-x wt% CoS/NC nanoheteroarchitecture exhibited high photocatalytic activity due to the efficient separation and charge transfer of electron-hole pairs on Co3S4/NC HNB and g-C3N4 surfaces.