Photocatalytic Activity of TiO<inf>2</inf>/g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> Nanocomposites for Removal of Monochlorophenols from Water
Issued Date
2022-08-01
Resource Type
eISSN
20794991
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85137385197
Journal Title
Nanomaterials
Volume
12
Issue
16
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Nanomaterials Vol.12 No.16 (2022)
Suggested Citation
Kobkeatthawin T., Chaveanghong S., Trakulmututa J., Amornsakchai T., Kajitvichyanukul P., Smith S.M. Photocatalytic Activity of TiO<inf>2</inf>/g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> Nanocomposites for Removal of Monochlorophenols from Water. Nanomaterials Vol.12 No.16 (2022). doi:10.3390/nano12162852 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/87127
Title
Photocatalytic Activity of TiO<inf>2</inf>/g-C<inf>3</inf>N<inf>4</inf> Nanocomposites for Removal of Monochlorophenols from Water
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
This research employed g-C3N4 nanosheets in the hydrothermal synthesis of TiO2/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalysts. The TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunctions, well-dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles on the g-C3N4 nanosheets, are effective photocatalysts for the degradation of monochlorophenols (MCPs: 2-CP, 3-CP, and 4-CP) which are prominent water contaminants. The removal efficiency of 2-CP and 4-CP reached 87% and 64%, respectively, after treatment of 25 ppm CP solutions with the photocatalyst (40TiO2/g-C3N4, 1 g/L) and irradiation with UV–Vis light. Treatment of CP solutions with g-C3N4 nanosheets or TiO2 alone in conjunction with irradiation gave removal efficiencies lower than 50%, which suggests the two act synergically to enhance the photocatalytic activity of the 40TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite. Superoxide and hydroxyl radicals are key active species produced during CP photodegradation. In addition, the observed nitrogen and Ti3+ defects and oxygen vacancies in the TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites may improve the light-harvesting ability of the composite and assist preventing rapid electron-hole recombination on the surface, enhancing the photocatalytic performance. In addition, interfacial interactions between the MCPs (low polarity) and thermally exfoliated carbon nitride in the TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites may also enhance MCP degradation.