ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Supported g-C₃N₄/WO₃ mixed layers for photocatalytic water remediation

Libor Brabec, Eliska Mikyskova, Olha Zin, Barbora Walderova, Radek Zouzelka, Jiri Rathousky, Marco Weers, Arne Schechterle, and Michael Wark

J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry of the CAS, Prague, Czech Republic

E-mail: brabec@jh-inst.cas.cz

Received: 25 June 2024  Accepted: 20 September 2024

Abstract:

g-C₃N₄ layers with good mechanical properties, including their cohesion and adhesion to stainless-steel supports, were prepared by the quantitative electrophoretic co-deposition of g-C₃N₄ and WO₃ nanocrystals. It was carried out in a mixture of organic solvents by applying a voltage of 750 V. The typical layer area density was 0.64 mg cm^–2. The photocatalytic degradation of 4-chlorophenol under blue-light irradiation showed that the performance of stable composite layers containing 25–50 wt.% of WO₃ was only slightly weaker than that of unstable pristine g-C₃N₄ ones. The high photocatalytic performance was due to g-C₃N₄, while WO₃ contributed to a good mechanical resistance of layers in stirred water. Finally, the composite layers exhibited a very high 4-chlorophenol mineralization of 75% in 24 h, even higher than the corresponding suspensions. Owing to their stability in water and performance, the developed layers are suitable for applications in environmental technologies.

Graphic Abstract

Keywords: Graphitic carbon nitride; Photocatalysis; Visible light; 4-Chlorophenol; Mineralization

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-024-03706-w

Chemical Papers 78 (16) 8749–8757 (2024)