WO3 nanorod photocatalysts decorated with few-layer g-C3N4 nanosheets: controllable synthesis and photocatalytic mechanism research

Abstract

Novel WO₃ nanorod (WO₃ NRs) photocatalysts decorated with few-layer g-C₃N₄ nanosheets (flg-C₃N₄) have been synthesized by a typical hydrothermal process. The structure, morphology, optical and electronic properties were researched by comprehensive characterization methods. The photocatalytic performance of flg-C₃N₄/WO₃ NRs nanocomposites was assessed by degrading Rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation. When the loading amount of the flg-C₃N₄ is 20 wt%, the flg-C₃N₄/WO₃ NRs nanocomposites exhibit the highest activity and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) values decreased by about 64%. The improved light harvesting ability and higher separation efficiency of photoinduced electron–hole pairs by the decoration of flg-C₃N₄ lead to the boosting photocatalytic performance. In addition, through ESR analysis and a trapping experiment, the photocatalytic mechanism was also researched.