MOF-Derived Mesoporous g-C3N4/TiO2 Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity

Here, g-C3N4/TiO2 photocatalysts with mesoporous structure and intimate interfacial connection were synthesized via the facile pyrolysis of g-C3N4/MIL-125 composites. The photocatalytic -H2 evolution reaction was performed to examine the photocatalytic activity of obtained photocatalysts. Under the UV-vis light irradiation, the average -H2 evolution rate of g-C3N4/TiO2 sample with optimal g- C3N4 loading content (4.12wt%) was most increased by up to 0.606 mmol.g-1.h-1, a value which transcended that of as-prepared g-C3N4 (0.138 mmol.g-1.h-1) and mesoporous -TiO2 (0.244 mmol.g-1.h-1) by a factor of 4.41 and 2.48, respectively. The improvement in photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/TiO2 composites was explained by the synergistic effect between large specific surface area, decreased energy band gap and intimate interface contact. This study demonstrated a new approach for the preparation of binary mesoporous heterojunction photocatalysts.