MOF-Derived Mesoporous g-CN/TiO Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract: Here, g-CN/TiO photocatalysts with mesoporous structure and intimate interfacial connection were synthesized via the facile pyrolysis of g-CN/MIL-125 composites. The photocatalytic H evolution reaction was performed to examine the photocatalytic activity of obtained photocatalysts. Under the UV–vis light irradiation, the average H evolution rate of g-CN/TiO sample with optimal g-CN loading content (4.12wt%) was most increased by up to 0.606 mmol·g·h, a value which transcended that of as-prepared g-CN (0.138 mmol·g·h) and mesoporous TiO (0.244 mmol·g·h) by a factor of 4.41 and 2.48, respectively. The improvement in photocatalytic activity of g-CN/TiO composites was explained by the synergistic effect between large specific surface area, decreased energy band gap and intimate interface contact. This study demonstrated a new approach for the preparation of binary mesoporous heterojunction photocatalysts. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]