Photodegradation of Rhodamine B and Methyl Orange over Boron-Doped g-C3N4 under Visible Light Irradiation

Abstract

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and boron-doped g-C₃N₄ were prepared by heating melamine and the mixture of melamine and boron oxide, respectively. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV−vis spectra were used to describe the properties of as-prepared samples. The electron paramagnetic resonance was used to detect the active species for the photodegradation reaction over g-C₃N₄. The photodegradation mechanisms for two typical dyes, rhodamine B (Rh B) and methyl orange (MO), are proposed based on our comparison experiments. In the g-C₃N₄ photocatalysis system, the photodegradation of Rh B and MO is attributed to the direct hole oxidation and overall reaction, respectively; however, for the MO photodegradation the reduction process initiated by photogenerated electrons is a major photocatalytic process compared with the oxidation process induced by photogenerated holes. Boron doping for g-C₃N₄ can promote photodegradation of Rh B because the boron doping improves the dye adsorption and light absorption of catalyst.