Abstract
Metal-free g-C(3)N(4) (graphitic carbon nitride) is a promising candidate for the next-generation visible light-responsive photocatalyst; however, the recombination and transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers restrict its photocatalytic performances. The exfoliated g-C₃N₄ sensitized with brominated perylenediimide (dBrPDI) and perylene tetraester (dBrPTE) enhances the photocatalytic performance due to improved charge separation, light absorption, charge transfer and, thereby, overall efficiency in pollutant degradation. The g-C(3)N(4)/dBrPTE hybrid composite exhibits the fastest photocatalytic degradation against rhodamine B (RhB) pollutants. The g-C(3)N(4)/dBrPTE hybrid composite degrades RhB with a 2.34-fold improvement over pure g-C(3)N(4), while the g-C(3)N(4)/dBrPDI hybrid composite degrades with a 1.56-fold increase over pure g-C(3)N(4). The g-C3N4/dBrPDI hybrid composite shows the highest photocatalytic efficiency against methyl orange (MO) pollutants. The g-C(3)N(4)/dBrPDI hybrid composite degrades MO with a 2.25-fold improvement over pure g-C(3)N(4), while the g-C(3)N(4)/dBrPTE hybrid composite degrades with a 1.8-fold increase over pure g-C(3)N(4). Unlike MO and RhB, the perylene dye sensitization does not enhance the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and no sustained increase in efficiency is not observed. Overall, these results suggest that photocatalytic efficiency depends not only on the sensitized photocatalyst material but also on the interaction between the sensitized photocatalyst and the chemical and ionic properties of the pollutants in the aquatic media.