Photocatalytic enhancement of bulk gC₃N₄ by one-step polymerization of melamine in the presence of solvent: Synthesis and characterization

Switching the properties of bulk graphitic carbon nitride (gC(3)N(4)) targetedly and exerting these advantages fully in organic pollutants photodegradation are crucial for the efficient utilization of solar energy but still exhibits a significant challenge for a real transposition on an industrial scale. The present study displays an easy and green strategy to switch the features of gC(3)N(4) using water or ethanol as solvents. The obitained gC(3)N(4) efficiently improve the separation and transfer of the photogenerated carriers. Interestingly, all the gC(3)N(4) synthesized in presence of solvents exhited a superior photcatalytic activity than the one obtained without solvent, especially the one obtained in presence of distilled water (gC(3)N(4)-H2O). The later results in the mass production of gC(3)N(4) sheets, giving a yield, i.e., up to 32% after annealing at 550 & DEG;C. Moreover, gC(3)N(4)-H2O achieve a superior photocatalytic activity for sodium diclofenac degradation (48%) under simulated sunlight after 120 min of irradiation.