Electric Field Driven of Tourmaline/g-C3N4 Photocatalyst with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance and High-Efficient Pollutant Degradation

Abstract

Photocatalysis technology of g-C₃N₄ is of great value in wastewater treatment, thus calling for developing a concise and high-efficiency method to improve its photocatalytic efficiency. Here, a novel photocatalyst consisting of tourmaline particles (TPs) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) is prepared by a step calcining method with enhanced photocatalytic performance. The self-polarized electric field of TPs attracts the photogenerated electrons generated by the catalyst and delays the recombination rate of electron-hole pairs, for which reason the prepared photocatalyst exhibits a wider spectral response and stronger photocatalytic activity. The mechanism analysis exhibits that the reactive substances including h⁺, ·OH, ¹O₂, and ·O₂⁻ generated by TPs/g-C₃N₄ effectively eliminate the contaminant during photocatalysis. The degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) of g-C₃N₄-0.5% TPs is increased from 88.47% to 97.76% after 30 min illumination compared with pure g-C₃N₄. Furthermore, to facilitate catalyst recycling and reuse, a photocatalytic lignocellulose membrane is prepared. After five cycles, the degradation efficiency of the membrane decreases from 97.89% to 95.54%, still maintaining 97.60%. This study has constructed an innovative tourmaline/g-C₃N₄ photocatalyst and recyclable photocatalytic lignocellulose membrane with enhanced pollutant degradation properties by introducing naturally polarized minerals, providing a new approach for efficient water treatment.