Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B

The increasing global demand for clean water is driving the development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) has emerged as an efficient photocatalyst for degrading organic pollutants, such as synthetic dyes, d...

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Main Authors: Jing Zhang, Lixia Wang, Yang Li, Yuhong Huang, Renbin Song, Chen Cheng, Qian Luo, Ruiqi Zhai, Yijie Meng, Peixin Zhang, Qiang Ma, Yingjie Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1910
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author Jing Zhang
Lixia Wang
Yang Li
Yuhong Huang
Renbin Song
Chen Cheng
Qian Luo
Ruiqi Zhai
Yijie Meng
Peixin Zhang
Qiang Ma
Yingjie Zhang
author_facet Jing Zhang
Lixia Wang
Yang Li
Yuhong Huang
Renbin Song
Chen Cheng
Qian Luo
Ruiqi Zhai
Yijie Meng
Peixin Zhang
Qiang Ma
Yingjie Zhang
author_sort Jing Zhang
collection DOAJ
description The increasing global demand for clean water is driving the development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) has emerged as an efficient photocatalyst for degrading organic pollutants, such as synthetic dyes, due to its exceptional thermo-chemical stability. However, its application is limited by an insufficient specific surface area, low photocatalytic efficiency, and an unclear degradation mechanism. In this study, we aimed to enhance g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> by doping it with elemental chlorine, resulting in a series of Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalysts with varying doping ratios, prepared via thermal polymerization. The photocatalytic activity of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> was assessed by measuring the degradation rate of RhB. A comprehensive characterization of the Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> composites was conducted using SEM, XRD, XPS, PL, DRS, BET, EPR, and electrochemical measurements. Our results indicated that the optimized 1:2 Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst exhibited exceptional performance, achieving 99.93% RhB removal within 80 min of irradiation. TOC mineralization reached 91.73% after 150 min, and 88.12% removal of antibiotics was maintained after four cycles, demonstrating the excellent stability of the 1:2 Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst. Mechanistic investigations revealed that superoxide radicals (·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) and singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) were the primary reactive oxygen species responsible for the degradation of RhB in the chlorine-doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalytic system.
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spelling doaj-art-6606db0cf0f84bbe9b8ae32c89b8cdc62025-08-20T02:59:14ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492025-04-01309191010.3390/molecules30091910Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine BJing Zhang0Lixia Wang1Yang Li2Yuhong Huang3Renbin Song4Chen Cheng5Qian Luo6Ruiqi Zhai7Yijie Meng8Peixin Zhang9Qiang Ma10Yingjie Zhang11College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaKunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, ChinaKunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, ChinaKunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, ChinaKunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, ChinaKunming Dianchi and Plateau Lakes Institute, Kunming 650228, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaSchool of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, ChinaCollege of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, ChinaThe increasing global demand for clean water is driving the development of advanced wastewater treatment technologies. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) has emerged as an efficient photocatalyst for degrading organic pollutants, such as synthetic dyes, due to its exceptional thermo-chemical stability. However, its application is limited by an insufficient specific surface area, low photocatalytic efficiency, and an unclear degradation mechanism. In this study, we aimed to enhance g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> by doping it with elemental chlorine, resulting in a series of Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalysts with varying doping ratios, prepared via thermal polymerization. The photocatalytic activity of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> was assessed by measuring the degradation rate of RhB. A comprehensive characterization of the Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> composites was conducted using SEM, XRD, XPS, PL, DRS, BET, EPR, and electrochemical measurements. Our results indicated that the optimized 1:2 Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst exhibited exceptional performance, achieving 99.93% RhB removal within 80 min of irradiation. TOC mineralization reached 91.73% after 150 min, and 88.12% removal of antibiotics was maintained after four cycles, demonstrating the excellent stability of the 1:2 Cl-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst. Mechanistic investigations revealed that superoxide radicals (·O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) and singlet oxygen (<sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>) were the primary reactive oxygen species responsible for the degradation of RhB in the chlorine-doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photocatalytic system.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1910graphitic phase carbon nitrideRhodamine BphotocatalysisCl-doped photocatalyst
spellingShingle Jing Zhang
Lixia Wang
Yang Li
Yuhong Huang
Renbin Song
Chen Cheng
Qian Luo
Ruiqi Zhai
Yijie Meng
Peixin Zhang
Qiang Ma
Yingjie Zhang
Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
Molecules
graphitic phase carbon nitride
Rhodamine B
photocatalysis
Cl-doped photocatalyst
title Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
title_full Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
title_fullStr Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
title_full_unstemmed Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
title_short Preparation of Cl-Doped g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B
title_sort preparation of cl doped g c sub 3 sub n sub 4 sub photocatalyst and its photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine b
topic graphitic phase carbon nitride
Rhodamine B
photocatalysis
Cl-doped photocatalyst
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/9/1910
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