Facile synthesis of mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride/SnO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts for the enhanced photodegradation of Rhodamine B

In order to enhance the photocatalytic performance of carbon nitride, mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride (mpg-C3N4) nanocomposite photocatalyst (mpg-C3N4/SnO2) with high photocatalytic activity was synthesized by in situ growth method in this paper. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). Also, the photocatalytic properties of mpg-C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposite were studied by photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) solution under visible light irradiation. After 120 min of visible light irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of the synthesized mpg-C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposite increased significantly, the degradation effect of the mpg-C3N4/SnO2 composite sample can reach up to 93%, and higher than that of pure mpg-C3N4 and SnO2. The mesoporous structure of mpg-C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposite could enlarge the contact area with dye and increase light absorption, and the presence of heterojunction on the interface between mpg-C3N4 and SnO2 further enhanced the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron hole pairs, sequentially improves the photocatalytic performance of the mpg-C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposite.