g–C3N4– and polyaniline-co-modified TiO2 nanotube arrays for significantly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetrabromobisphenol A under visible light.

An ordered g–C 3 N 4 – and polyaniline-modified titanium oxide nanotube array (g–C 3 N 4 – and PANI-co-modified TiO 2 NTAs) was successfully synthesized and used as a photocatalyst. Polyaniline (PANI) was coated onto TiO 2 NTAs by electrochemical polycondensation, and g-C 3 N 4 was deposited via the soaking adsorption method. The photocatalysts were examined by several technologies. The experiments demonstrated that the amount of g-C 3 N 4 and PANI, as well as the initial pH value, had significant effects on the photocatalytic efficiency. The resulting photocatalysts exhibited high visible light photocatalytic ability for tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) for two reasons. First, PANI expanded the light absorption into the visible region. Second, rapid and efficient separation of photoinduced charges from the photogenerated potential difference were produced at the contact interface of g-C 3 N 4 and PANI-co-modified TiO 2 NTAs. The •OH, • O 2 − and h+ were dominant components for the photocatalytic degradation of TBBPA. In addition, the g-C 3 N 4 and PANI-co-modified TiO 2 NTAs have excellent long-term stability. • g–C 3 N 4 – and PANI-co-modified TiO 2 NTAs was synthesized by a facile method. • g–C 3 N 4 – and PANI-co-modified TiO 2 NTAs markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity. • g-C 3 N 4 and PANI co-modification generated strongly synergistic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]