Metal doping in g-C3N4 and tuning of band-gap for dye degradation using visible light

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), as a fascinating conjugated polymer, has been the hotspot in science as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst. Pure g-C3N4 suffers from insufficient sunlight absorption, low surface area and the fast recombination of photo-induced electron-hole pairs, resulting in low photocatalytic activity. Utilizing the thermal polymerization process, metal-doped g-C3N4 has been formed and the formed catalysts employed for the degradation of methyl orange under visible light. The produced catalysts have been examined using a variety of characterisation techniques and by experimental means. The lowering of band gap and improved photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalyst is resulted by metal doping.