Synthesis and photocatalytic performance of composite g-C3N4 with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

A novel g-C 3 N 4 composite photocatalyst was synthesized by one-step calcination using melamine and different functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) as raw materials. The effect of additives on the photocatalytic performance of the composite g-C 3 N 4 has been investigated. The results showed that the incorporation of functionalized MWCNT led to a porous structure in g-C 3 N 4 , increasing the specific surface area and availability of active sites. The addition of hydroxylated/carboxylated MWCNT (HMWCNT/CMWCNT) affected the band structure of g-C 3 N 4 and reduced the band gap. The visible-light photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) using g-C 3 N 4 composited with various types and amounts of MWCNT was evaluated. Among them, g-C 3 N 4 with 1 wt% CMWCNT showed the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of RhB and still had 92.71% photocatalytic activity after 5 cycles of degradation. • A novel composite g-C 3 N 4 with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes was synthesized. • The porous structure in composite increases the availability of active sites. • The reduced band gap of the composite increases the separation rate of photogenerated electron-hole pair. • The composite exhibited 3.83-fold photocatalytic degradation efficiency with good cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]