Ag loaded B-doped-g C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanosheet with efficient properties for photocatalysis



Thorat, Nirmala, Yadav, Asha, Yadav, Manisha, Gupta, Suraj ORCID: 0000-0001-8128-5869, Varma, Ranjana, Pillai, Saju, Fernandes, Rohan, Patel, Maulik ORCID: 0000-0002-3214-5752 and Patel, Nainesh
(2019) Ag loaded B-doped-g C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanosheet with efficient properties for photocatalysis. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, 247. pp. 57-66.

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Abstract

Three material engineering strategies in the form of doping (Boron-doping), nanostructuring (nanosheet (NS) formation) and decorating with plasmonic nanoparticles (loading with Ag metal), were integrated to improve the photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitride (gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>). Concentrations of B-doping and Ag-loading were optimized to maximize the catalytic performance in the final nanocomposite of Ag-loaded B-doped gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> NS. Combined effect of all three strategies successfully produced over 5 times higher rate towards degradation of organic dye pollutant, when compared to unmodified bulk gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. Detailed characterization results revealed that incorporation of B in gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> matrix reduces the band gap to increase the visible light absorption, while specific surface area is significantly enhanced upon formation of NS. Decoration of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) on B-doped gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> NS assists in fast transfer of photogenerated electrons from gC<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> to Ag NPs owing to the interfacial electric field across the junctions and thus reduces the recombination process. Investigations on individual strategies revealed that decoration of Ag NPs to induce better charge separation, is the most effective route for enhancing the photocatalytic activity.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Graphitic carbon nitride, B doping, Ag nanoparticle, Plasmonic, g-C3N4 nanosheet, Recombination rate
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 06 Aug 2019 08:34
Last Modified: 12 Oct 2023 09:51
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.043
Related URLs:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3049389

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