Photocatalysts Based on Titanium Dioxide and Carbon Nitrides for Efficient Decomposition of Organic Dyes

Abstract

TiO₂/γ-C₃N₄ and TiO₂/β-C₃N₄ photoactive nanomaterials were synthesized using the polyol method by introducing γ- and β-polymorphs of carbon nitride with graphite-like and diamond-like structures into the reaction medium. A polymorph obtained by the low-temperature plasmochemical method was used for the first time to obtain a composite with β-C₃N₄. The morphology, crystal structure and porosity of the obtained composites were studied. The photocatalytic activity of the materials in the visible and UV ranges was investigated in the decomposition reactions of organic dyes (rhodamine B, methylene blue, reactive red 6C). It was shown that the photocatalytic activity of the obtained materials strongly depends on the polymorphic modification of carbon nitride: the g-form has advantages both under irradiation with visible light and under exposure to ultraviolet light. In addition, the efficiency of the synthesized TiO₂/γ-C₃N₄ remains virtually unchanged over six consecutive test cycles.