Pyrolysis Synthesized g-C3N4 for Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was synthesized at 520 degrees C by the pyrolysis of cyanamide, dicyandiamide, and melamine. The samples were characterized by X ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and elemental analyzer. The photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 was evaluated by the photodegrading experiments of methylene blue (MB). The results indicated that g-C3N4 obtained from dicyandiamide exhibited higher activity, and the higher C/N molar ratio and degree of condensation increase the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4. A photocatalytic mechanism presumed the MB photo degradation over the C3N4 photocatalyst is attributed to photogenerated electron impelled multistep reduction of O-2.