Novel β-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes: facile synthesis and unique photocatalytic performance

For the first time, novel beta-C3N4/CuO composites with superior photocatalytic activity are successfully fabricated via a facile reflux method followed by a thermal process. The morphologies, particle size and microstructure of the synthesized beta-C3N4/CuO composites largely depended upon copper chloride and the volume ratio of V-water:V-ethanol in the mixed precursors. The fabricated beta-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes exhibited obviously enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) with an similar to 3.4 and 1.9 fold increase in efficiency over that of pure g-C3N4 and commercial P25, respectively. The beta-C3N4/CuO composite photocatalyst also showed photocatalytic activity for the degradation of methyl orange (MO). Moreover, the beta-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes showed almost no loss of photocatalytic activity after three recycles of the degradation of the MB. A multiple synergetic mechanism in beta-C3N4/CuO nanoflakes, which is featured by the highly reactive {0 0 2} facets, exposed many active sites of nanoflakes and the efficient charge separation are proposed to account for the distinguished photocatalytic activity. This work provides a facile and cost-effective strategy for designing novel beta-C3N4/CuO photocatalysts for application in environmental purification.