Precise regulation of Ultra-thin platinum decorated Gold/Graphite carbon nitride photocatalysts by atomic layer deposition for efficient degradation of Rhodamine B under simulated sunlight.

Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) precise controlling ultra-thin platinum (Pt) modified Graphite carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) photocatalysts, which had been doped with gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by photodeposition, were successfully synthesized. The experimental results showed that precise regulation of platinum decorated C 3 N 4 -Au(C 3 N 4 -Au/nPt (n is the number of Pt ALD cycles, 1 Å per cycle)) exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation ability for Rhodamine B (RhB). Under simulated sunlight irradiation, the degradation rate of 10 mg/L RhB(100 mL) by 1.5 mg C 3 N 4 -Au/10Pt catalysts was 95.8% within 60 min that is much better than other photocatalysts for the degradation of RhB. The efficient degradation mechanism of RhB by C 3 N 4 -Au/10Pt photocatalysts was studied and the experiments demonstrated the ·O 2 ^– as main active species played an important role in the photocatalytic process. Local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of Au NPs and Schottky barrier between Pt clusters and g-C 3 N 4 may be the reasons for enhanced C 3 N 4 -Au/10Pt photocatalytic performances. Furthermore, the successive catalytic cycles revealed the excellent stability of C 3 N 4 -Au/10Pt photocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]