China Petroleum Processing & Petrochemical Technology ›› 2023, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (1): 123-132.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Coupling agent grafting assisted synthesis of C3N4-ZrO2 heterojunction composites with enhanced photocatalytic performance

Liu Yanxiu1; Luo Jing1; Li Jinqi2; Wang Xueqin1; Song Hua1   

  1. 1 Provincial Key Laboratory of Oil & Gas Chemical Technology, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163318, China;
    2. North China Branch of SINOPEC Sales Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300450, China
  • Received:2022-09-26 Revised:2022-12-16 Online:2023-03-30 Published:2023-03-30
  • Contact: Yan-Xiu Liu E-mail:liuyanxiu1126@163.com; liuyanxiu1126@126.com

Abstract: Heterojunction composites were prepared by silane coupling agent grafting from synthesized graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and commercially available zirconia (ZrO2). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The results showed that heterojunction composites of g-C3N4 and ZrO2 could be successfully prepared by coupling agent grafting. The optimal mass ratio of g-C3N4 and ZrO2 was 2:1, with an activity that was 3.8 times higher than g-C3N4 and 15.3 times higher than ZrO2. This was ascribed to the stronger light absorption, faster interfacial charge transfer, and lower photogenerated carrier recombination of the heterojunction composites.

Key words: Heterojunction, Graphitic carbon nitride, Zirconia, Coupling, Grafting