Photocatalytic (PC) oxidation is considered as an emerging efficient technology for organic pollutant elimination. Photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation has been demonstrated to be more efficient than PC oxidation by exploiting the synergism between PC oxidation and electrocatalytic oxidation. Up to date, TiO2-based photocatalysts are still the most promising photocatalysts because they are highly oxidative efficiency, nontoxic, resistant to photocorrosion and low-cost. Herein, we reported a novel and highly efficient C3N4/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays for bisphenol A PEC degradation. C3N4/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays on carbon cloth were successfully prepared via a hydrothermal method followed by chemical vapor deposition of the C3N4 shell. Compared to TiO2 nanoparticles, one-dimensional TiO2 nanowires have large surface-to-volume ratios, vectorial charge transport along the nanowire axis and recyclable characteristics. C3N4 serves as a visible light sensitizer, and the suitable band alignment between C3N4 and TiO2 can facilitate the charge separation and transport. Under visible light irradiation (λ≥420 nm), the PC and PEC (bias potential=1.0 V) activity of the C3N4/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays is 2.3 times and 2.0 times as high as those of pure TiO2 nanowire arrays, respectively. Moreover, compared with pure TiO2 nanowire arrays, the photocurrent of the C3N4/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays was greatly enhanced under visible light and simulated solar light irradiation. Our work may suggest a potential way to fabricate novel and highly efficient composited TiO2 nanowire photocatalysts.

C3N4/TiO2 core-shell nanowire arrays for efficient visible-light photoelectrocatalytic bisphenol A degradation

251st National Meeting (2016)

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