Novel rugby-like g-C3N4/BiVO4 core/shell Z-scheme composites prepared via low-temperature hydrothermal method for enhanced photocatalytic performance

Novel rugby-like g-C3N4/BiVO4 (xCN/BVO, x = 3, 5, and 10) Z-Scheme type composite photocatalyst was fabricated using g-C3N4 nanosheets as raw materials of the morphology directing and heterojunction construction via one-step low-temperature hydrothermal method. The results showed that this fabrication method is effective to control the morphology of BiVO4 from irregular shape to regular rugby-like with g-C3N4 nanosheets addition and construct a Z-Scheme type heterojunction with intimate and wide interfaces between g-C3N4 and BiVO4. The rugby-like CN/BVO exhibited better photocatalytic activity for methyl orange (MO) degradation than single irregular BiVO4. The optimal 5CN/BVO sample can degraded 94.2% of MO in 50 min under visible light illumination, being about 8.78 higher than pure BiVO4. The improved photocatalytic efficiency for CN/BVO is mainly due to the strengthen visible light utilization ability, the special rugby-like morphology, intimate interface, and the efficient Z-Scheme type heterojunction formation.