Fabrication of V2O5/g-C3N4 heterojunction composites and its enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance for degradation of gaseous ortho-dichlorobenzene

As a promising advanced oxidation process, it is still a challenging issue to develop low-cost and high efficient photocatalysts for removal technique of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Herein, the V2O5/g-C3N4 composites were synthesized by solvothermal–calcination method. The results indicate that the introduction of V2O5 leads to the formation of heterojunction structure and enhances the separation of photo-induced electron–hole pairs. The obtained V2O5/g-C3N4 heterojunction composites exhibit a higher photocatalytic activity for the decomposition of gaseous o-DCB compared to pure g-C3N4 and V2O5 under visible light irradiation due to its strong absorption in visible-light region, excellent charge separation characteristics and large specific surface area. Specially, the main reaction products, such as formates, acetates, and maleates were certified during the photocatalytic degradation process by in situ FTIR spectroscopy. Moreover, it is found that the OH· and O2·− acting as the dominant photo-induced active species are involved in the photocatalytic degradation of o-DCB. Such novel catalyst as visible light responsive catalyst provides a new choice for the efficient degradation of chlorinated VOCs in the ambient environment.