Tubular graphitic-C3N4: a prospective material for energy storage and green photocatalysis

Abstract

We have established a facile and scaleable approach to fabricate tubular graphitic-C₃N₄ using melamine. The construction of the unique tubular morphology is a result of the pre-treatment of melamine with HNO₃. Herein, for the first time, we have explored the electrochemical properties of g-C₃N₄ as an electrode material for supercapacitors. Tubular g-C₃N₄ has significant advantages due to its distinctive morphology, high surface area (182.61 m² g⁻¹) and combination of carbon with nitrogen. Therefore, tubular g-C₃N₄ demonstrated a good specific capacitance of 233 F g⁻¹ at a current density of 0.2 A g⁻¹ in 6 M KOH electrolyte. Furthermore, tubular g-C₃N₄ maintained a high capacitance retention capability (90%) after 1000 cycles. The photocatalytic activity of tubular g-C₃N₄ was evaluated using the organic dyes such as Methylene Blue (MB) and Methylene Orange (MO) under visible light. Tubular g-C₃N₄ demonstrated good photocatalytic activity and enhanced stability compared to bulk g-C₃N₄. The enhanced performance is because of the high surface area, which contains more active sites for reaction. The encouraging performance of tubular g-C₃N₄ in supercapacitors and as a photocatalyst points toward it being a prospective material for energy storage that is environmentally clean.