Acta Phys. -Chim. Sin. ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1): 159-165.doi: 10.3866/PKU.WHXB201411201

• CATALYSIS AND SURFACE SCIENCE • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effect of K+ Doping on the Band Structure and Photocatalytic Performance of Graphitic Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts

ZHANG Jian, WANG Yan-Juan, HU Shao-Zheng   

  1. Division of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Environment, Liaoning Shihua University, Fushun 113001, Liaoning Province, P. R. China
  • Received:2014-09-24 Revised:2014-11-20 Published:2014-12-25
  • Contact: HU Shao-Zheng E-mail:hushaozheng001@163.com
  • Supported by:

    The project was supported by the Education Department of Liaoning Province, China (L2013150).

Abstract:

Aseries of band gap-tunable K+ doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts have been prepared using potassiumhydrate and melamine as precursors, and fully characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-Vis spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, N2 adsorption, photoluminescence (PL), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of these analyses indicated that the positions of the valence and conduction bands were obviously changed as the concentration of K+ increased. The K+ ions were found to be embedded in the structural units of the g-C3N4, which inhibited the growth of the graphitic carbon nitride crystals, enhanced the surface area, and increased the separation rate of the photogenerated electrons and holes. The activity of K+ doped g-C3N4 catalysts was tested towards the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The result indicated that the activity improved significantly after K+ doping. Furthermore, the K+ doped g-C3N4 catalysts exhibited outstanding structural and catalytic stability.

Key words: Graphitic carbon nitride, Tunable band, K+ doping, Stability, Visible light