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Samples of biochar-coupled g-C 3 N 5 /C have been prepared using 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole and peanut oil as precursors to increase the specific surface area of g-C 3 N 5. The results showed that the specific surface area of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 reached 44.7 m2 g−1, and the C/N ratio increased from 0.56 to 1.48. The weakness of its photoluminescence (PL) peak confirmed that g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 had the best separation of photogenerated electrons and holes. Furthermore, the fluorescence lifetime of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 is extended to 6.4 ns, compared to 2.9 ns for g-C 3 N 5. Therefore, g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 displays superior photocatalytic activity to that of pure g-C 3 N 5 under visible-light irradiation. This is because the large specific surface area leads to increased absorption of visible light and efficient separation of electron–hole pairs. The hydrogen evolution rate of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 is 303.3 μmol g−1 h−1 (cf. 67.5 μmol g−1 h−1 for g-C 3 N 5), and the photodegradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) is as high as 93.7% (cf. 26.1% for g-C 3 N 5). Sample g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 also maintained outstanding photocatalytic stability after four cycles. Radical scavenger experiments and ESR tests have shown •O 2 − to be the main reactive species responsible for RhB degradation under visible light. • Biochar-doped g-C 3 N 5 was synthesized by one-step method with peanut oil as biochar source. • Biochar-doped g-C 3 N 5 can improve the specific surface area and light absorption ability. • g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 exhibited H 2 evolution of 303.3 μmol g−1 h−1, which was 4.5 times than that of pure g-C 3 N 5. • The photodegradation to rhodamine B of g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 can reach 93.7% after 150 min. • The g-C 3 N 5 /C-1.0 has good photocatalytic activity and chemical stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hierarchically structured m -BiVO 4 samples with different morphologies have been synthesized via a template-free solvothermal route by adjusting the pH value of the precursor solution. The effects of pH value on structure, morphology and photocatalytic activity were investigated. The results showed that the pH value played a great influence not only on the formation of the hierarchical structures with different morphologies, but also on the preferential crystal growth of the BiVO 4 oriented along {040} facets. The pinwheel-like sample with the highest relative intensities of the diffraction peaks I 040 / I –121 exhibited the best photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of MB under visible light irradiation. According to the Ostwald ripening process, a possible oriented aggregation mechanism was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution is becoming ever more serious, and photodegradation using sustainable energy-solar energy is of great importance. Studies have revealed that semiconductor compound photocatalysts have a wide range of promising applications in the treatment of environmental pollution. Based on the current view, we synthesized flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S composite catalyst for photodegradation reaction by a two-step method. We analyzed the growth mechanism of the catalysts in terms of reaction time and reaction temperature, and characterized the composites utilizing FSEM, XRD, UV–vis, and XPS. The results showed that the 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S composites synthesized under the optimal conditions we obtained experimentally had higher photocatalytic performance with 99.1% final conversion rate in 1h compared to the 97.7% final conversion efficiency of pure Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S in 1.5 h, which showed higher conversion efficiency and conversion rate, meanwhile, after 8 cycles of stability experiments, the stability of the composite remained good. Of course, the stability of the photocatalyst is also essential. Fig. 6(d) shows the cycle stability test of 3NiS/ZCS photodegradation. After eight cycles, the final conversion efficiency remains high at 95.4%, which shows good cycling stability. • Flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S were obtained by Simple and low-cost hydrothermal and solution impregnation methods. • Flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S has a higher visible light utilization efficiency than pure Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S. • The synthesis of our flower-like 3NiS/Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S with high photocatalytic properties and good cycling stability is promising for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]