Efficient Photocatalytic H2O2 Production Ability of a Novel Graphitic Carbon Nitride/Carbon Composites under Visible Light

Abstract In the present work, using one‐step calcination of a mixture made of potassium hydroxide (KOH), melamine, and microplastics, this work prepares a novel graphitic carbon nitride/carbon (g‐C 3 N 4 /C) composite, which can be employed to photo‐catalytically produce hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) at a high rate up to 6.146 mmol g −1 h −1 under visible light irradiation. By analyzing the energy band structure of the catalyst, the production of H 2 O 2 in this system consists of two single‐electron reactions. The modification of KOH makes abundant N‐vacancies caused by cyano‐groups in g‐C 3 N 4 , enhancing the electron absorption ability. Moreover, the introduction of graphitic carbon increases its specific surface area and porosity and improves the adsorption ability of O 2 . Simultaneously, their synergism reduces the g‐C 3 N 4 band gap, making both the conduction‐band and valence‐band positions more negative, showing enhanced reduction ability, lowering the energy barrier for oxygen reduction, and greatly improving the photogeneration performance of H 2 O 2 .