Deposition of g-C3N4 onto three-dimensional porous carbon for photocatalytic reduction of U(VI)
摘要
A three-dimensional porous carbon/graphitic carbon nitride (3D PC/g-C3N4) composite photocatalyst was successfully constructed by impregnating melamine with 3D porous carbon (which possesses an extended π-conjugated network) and then conducting thermal polycondensation. The obtained composite has a unique curved, cage-like 3D structure, which offers a significantly increased specific surface area and, more importantly, creates an electron-transfer pathway due to the excellent conductivity of 3D PC. This structure effectively transports photogenerated electrons and greatly inhibits charge carrier recombination, resulting in a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity for U(VI) reduction.Under visible-light irradiation, the optimized 20 wt% 3D PC/g-C3N4 composite can achieve a high U(VI) removal efficiency of 90.6% within 100 min, with a reaction rate constant 4.4 times higher than that of pristine g-C3N4.The composite also shows excellent photocatalytic stability and recyclability over multiple cycles, demonstrating its potential for practical use in the treatment of uranium-containing wastewater.