In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity

Abstract In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 containing nitrogen vacancies and cyano group via one-pot method using urea as the precursor. The structural, morphological or electrochemical properties of synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, BET analysis, TEM, FTIR, UV-DRS, PL, XPS and EPR. It...

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Main Authors: Xiang Bi, Li-Zhong Wang, Dong-Hua Zhai, Lei Wang, Hui Yang, Gao-Hui Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03286-z
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author Xiang Bi
Li-Zhong Wang
Dong-Hua Zhai
Lei Wang
Hui Yang
Gao-Hui Du
author_facet Xiang Bi
Li-Zhong Wang
Dong-Hua Zhai
Lei Wang
Hui Yang
Gao-Hui Du
author_sort Xiang Bi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 containing nitrogen vacancies and cyano group via one-pot method using urea as the precursor. The structural, morphological or electrochemical properties of synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, BET analysis, TEM, FTIR, UV-DRS, PL, XPS and EPR. It was found that the nitrogen vacancy was successfully introduced into g-C3N4. Compared to pure g-C3N4, the (200) crystal plane in XRD of synthesized g-C3N4 showed slight red-shift, and the BET surface areas had changed from 27.5 to 35.7 m2 ·g−1, which could provide more reaction center and active site. TEM confirmed that g-C3N4 and VN-g-C3N4 were porous materials, and FTIR, XPS as well as EPR could prove the presence of nitrogen vacancies and cyano group. The UV-Vis absorption edge of VN-g-C3N4 demonstrated briefly red-shift, PL intensity and lifetime of carriers declined in comparison with pure g-C3N4. Electrochemical test results showed that enhanced charge separation efficiency and low recombination rate of charge carriers of VN-g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was researched by RhB degradation and ACT removal under visible light irradiation, the results showed the rate of RhB degradation on the VN-g-C3N4 was 81%, which was 1.4-fold as high as that of g-C3N4 in visible light. The degradation contribution from the active species were h+ (67.3%) >1O2(63.0%)>•OH (49.4%) >•O2 − (20.3%) > e− (20.1%) > H2O2(0.2%), and VN-g-C3N4 exhibited excellent ACT removal rate, which was 1.6-fold higher than that of pure g-C3N4 in visible light. This study provides an efficient photocatalyst for the treatment of toxic wastewater.
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spelling doaj-art-1fc067e1430d4c75affac7c2ab6eafaa2025-08-20T03:10:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-03286-zIn-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activityXiang Bi0Li-Zhong Wang1Dong-Hua Zhai2Lei Wang3Hui Yang4Gao-Hui Du5Institute of Intelligent Pharmaceutical and Chemical New Materials, Taizhou Polytechnic CollegeInstitute of Intelligent Pharmaceutical and Chemical New Materials, Taizhou Polytechnic CollegeInstitute of Intelligent Pharmaceutical and Chemical New Materials, Taizhou Polytechnic CollegeInstitute of Intelligent Pharmaceutical and Chemical New Materials, Taizhou Polytechnic CollegeInstitute of Intelligent Pharmaceutical and Chemical New Materials, Taizhou Polytechnic CollegeMaterials Institute of Atomic and Molecular Science, Shaanxi University of Science and TechnologyAbstract In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 containing nitrogen vacancies and cyano group via one-pot method using urea as the precursor. The structural, morphological or electrochemical properties of synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, BET analysis, TEM, FTIR, UV-DRS, PL, XPS and EPR. It was found that the nitrogen vacancy was successfully introduced into g-C3N4. Compared to pure g-C3N4, the (200) crystal plane in XRD of synthesized g-C3N4 showed slight red-shift, and the BET surface areas had changed from 27.5 to 35.7 m2 ·g−1, which could provide more reaction center and active site. TEM confirmed that g-C3N4 and VN-g-C3N4 were porous materials, and FTIR, XPS as well as EPR could prove the presence of nitrogen vacancies and cyano group. The UV-Vis absorption edge of VN-g-C3N4 demonstrated briefly red-shift, PL intensity and lifetime of carriers declined in comparison with pure g-C3N4. Electrochemical test results showed that enhanced charge separation efficiency and low recombination rate of charge carriers of VN-g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity of the photocatalysts was researched by RhB degradation and ACT removal under visible light irradiation, the results showed the rate of RhB degradation on the VN-g-C3N4 was 81%, which was 1.4-fold as high as that of g-C3N4 in visible light. The degradation contribution from the active species were h+ (67.3%) >1O2(63.0%)>•OH (49.4%) >•O2 − (20.3%) > e− (20.1%) > H2O2(0.2%), and VN-g-C3N4 exhibited excellent ACT removal rate, which was 1.6-fold higher than that of pure g-C3N4 in visible light. This study provides an efficient photocatalyst for the treatment of toxic wastewater.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03286-zg-C3N4Nitrogen vacanciesPorous materialAcetaminophenRhB
spellingShingle Xiang Bi
Li-Zhong Wang
Dong-Hua Zhai
Lei Wang
Hui Yang
Gao-Hui Du
In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
Scientific Reports
g-C3N4
Nitrogen vacancies
Porous material
Acetaminophen
RhB
title In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
title_full In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
title_fullStr In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
title_full_unstemmed In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
title_short In-situ synthesis of g-C3N4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one-pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
title_sort in situ synthesis of g c3n4 with nitrogen vacancy and cyano group via one pot method for enhanced photocatalytic activity
topic g-C3N4
Nitrogen vacancies
Porous material
Acetaminophen
RhB
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-03286-z
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