Screen superior ultra-thin g-C3N4 material for photocatalytic in-situ H2O2 production to remove tetracycline.

A superior ultra-thin g-C 3 N 4 material is screened for efficient photocatalytic in- situ H 2 O 2 production to remove antibiotics via a cascade reaction, which is attributed to its special surface electronic structure, rapid charge transfer efficiency and nearly two-electron (2e-) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process. [Display omitted] • Efficient strategy of photocatalytic in- situ H 2 O 2 production to remove antibiotics. • A superior ultra-thin g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets is screened for H 2 O 2 production. • Unpaired electron of g-C 3 N 4 is an important factor affecting performance. • The maximum H 2 O 2 production rate of pure g-C 3 N 4 arrives 665.4 μmol h−1 g−1. Photocatalytic in- situ hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2) preparation for cascade reactions is a novel and promising application strategy, especially for environmental remediation. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) has been proven to be one of the most effective catalysts. However, the H 2 O 2 yields on g-C 3 N 4 materials fabricated by different precursors varied greatly, so that the reasons need to be explored urgently for the later using. In this work, a series of different ultra-thin g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets catalysts are synthesized, on which the H 2 O 2 generation and tetracycline removal abilities are evaluated comprehensively. Among these, the g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets prepared by dicyandiamide (DCN) is demonstrated the excellent one with the maximum H 2 O 2 production efficiency of 665.4 μmol h−1 g−1, and its apparent quantum yield (AQY) arrives to 9.3% when illuminated at 400 nm. The superior photocatalytic performance of DCN is attributed to its nearly two-electron (2e-) oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process, numerous unpaired electrons, suitable band structure, rapid charge separation and transfer efficiency. This work provides an effective strategy for wastewater purification without adding H 2 O 2 , which has screened an excellent ultra-thin g-C 3 N 4 catalyst, for the further photocatalysis research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]