Enhancing photoelectrocatalytic efficiency by tuning graphitic carbon nitride characteristics for production of heterojunctions with W-BiVO4

Abstract

The escalating interest in utilizing solar energy for photocatalytic applications to address energy crises has spurred extensive research in developing efficient systems. Monoclinic BiVO4 is known for its superior photocatalytic capabilities; however, challenges like a high recombination rate and an unsuitable conduction band potential for the hydrogen evolution reaction limit its application. To overcome these challenges, doping BiVO4 with W (WB) and forming heterojunctions with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) are promising strategies to reduce charge recombination and increase visible light sensibility. This study shows that the hydrothermal treatment of g-C3N4 modifies its morphology and interaction with BiVO4 and W-BiVO4. Notably, our findings reveal a significant difference in the photoresponse between the combination of W-BiVO4 with g-C3N4, produced upon hydrothermal treatment (MHWB), and the combination with g-C3N4 produced without hydrothermal treatment (MDWB). The MHWB combination enhances the photoresponse by twice. Also, MHWB shows a higher activity for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline.