Construction of hybrid 2D g-C3N4/BiVO4 photocatalyst decorated with RGO for enhancing the H2 production and photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics

Abstract

The separation and migration of photo charge carriers at the heterostructure junction greatly affects the effectiveness of photocatalytic degradation activity and photo electrocatalytic hydrogen generation. In this paper, we present the effective manufacture of 2D g-C₃N₄/BiVO₄ photocatalysts decorated with RGO by a one-step microwave irradiation method. We also investigated the RGO@g-C₃N₄/BiVO₄ photocatalysts for their dual applications in photo electrocatalytic hydrogen production and antibiotics degradation (tetracycline chloride). Incorporating g-C₃N₄ into BVO boosts its H₂ production rate. Particularly, the ternary composite exhibited a H₂ production of about 6600 µmolg⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 10 times and 5 times better than pristine g-C₃N₄ (660 µmolg⁻¹ h⁻¹) and BVO (1220 µmolg⁻¹ h⁻¹), respectively. After 50 min of irradiation, the ternary photocatalyst degraded tetracycline chloride (TC) with 92% efficiency. The reaction rate constant of 0.0982 min⁻¹ was about fifteen times greater than that of pure g-C₃N₄ (0.0033 min⁻¹) and BVO (0.0054 min⁻¹). Composites of g-C₃N₄/RGO/BiVO₄, formed by the synergistic impact of BiVO₄, RGO, and g-C₃N₄, show significant photocatalytic activity owing to their Z-scheme charge transfer mechanism. There is a focus on the advantages of a triple-composite system with two interfaces over one or more single-interface scenarios.