Photocatalytic activity and mechanism of PCN@GO/AgNPs heterojunction in Rhodamine B degradation

An essential factor affecting the photocatalytic efficiency of a catalyst is the efficient separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. In the present study, a novel heterojunction material, PCN@GO/AgNPs, was synthesized with the aim of improving the photocatalytic performance. This achievement was accomplished through the establishment of a heterojunction between graphitic phase carbon nitride (PCN) and nano silver (AgNO3). The PCN was prepared from melamine powder calcined at high temperature under nitrogen environment, and was modified by graphene oxide (GO) to form heterojunction with silver nanoparticles, which resulted in a significant improvement in the photocatalytic efficiency of the catalyst. Under ultraviolet(UV)excitation, the catalytic rate constant of PCN@GO/AgNPs heterojunction on RhB dye can reach 10.594 × 10−2 min−1. This research represents a promising strategy to increase the surface area of PCN photocatalysts through simply doping noble metal and thus improving photocatalytic performance, which contributes to understand the reaction mechanism of photocatalytic effect.