Controlled Synthesis of Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) For Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes

Objectives: This study aims to synthesize porous g-C3N4 nanosheet (PGCN) with enhanced photodegradation properties. As-synthesized photocatalysts were used to degrade organic textile dyes (Rhodamine B) under UV-visible light irradiation. Method: Herein, a hybrid approach combining one-step synthesis and thermal exfoliation was used to fabricate exfoliated-PGCN (E-PGCN), where NH4Cl and melamine were used as raw materials. Robust characterization methods such as SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), BET (Brunauer-Emmett- Teller), etc. were used to validate the structure and morphology of the asfabricated photocatalysts. Findings: The experimental results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of BGCN, PGCN, and E-PGCN are 59.26%, 71.5%, and 92% respectively. The thermal exfoliation of PGCN (E-PGCN) improved surface area leading to enhanced degradation efficiency of PGCN from 71.5% to 92%, which is even 1.55, and 1.28 times higher than that of BGCN as well as PGCN respectively. Novelty: In this study, a tailored, facile, and cost-effective method combining one-step synthesis and thermal exfoliation technique was used to achieve high-yielding porous g-C3N4 nanosheets with high stability for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Additionally, the photocatalytic mechanism of E-PGCN for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) has also been proposed. Keywords: Graphitic Carbon Nitride Nanosheet; Photocatalytic Degradation; Organic Pollutant; Wastewater; Rhodamine B Graphical Abstract