Influence of metal-porphyrins on the photocatalysis of graphitic carbon nitride.

A series of novel metal-porphyrins (MTPPs, M(II) = Co, Ni, Cu) hybridized graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) has been successfully synthesized by a facile solvothermal method. The microstructure and chemical structure of the MTPP/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The MTPP/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performances for the photodegradation of rhodamine B in comparision with those of g-C 3 N 4 and the MTPPs precursors. The excellent photocatalytic performance was observed for CoTPP/g-C 3 N 4 compared to those of g-C 3 N 4 , NiTPP/g-C 3 N 4 and CuTPP/g-C 3 N 4 . The rational mechanisms responsible for deteriorating pollutants were proposed, which could be mainly ascribed to the more effective interfacial charge transfer and the interfacial electronic interactions between CoTPP and g-C 3 N 4 . The UV-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, photocurrent spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies confirmed that the charge separation efficiency was greatly improved by coupling g-C 3 N 4 with MTPPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]