Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity by Fe(Ш)-Doped Graphitic C3N4

Abstract

Fe(Ш)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Fe(Ш)-CN) photocatalysts with various Fe(Ш) ions content were prepared via ultrasonic method. Detailed physical characterization indicated that Fe(Ш) ions had been successfully doped into the frame of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activities were investigated, and methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) were used as the targeted pollutants. The as-prepared Fe(Ш)-CN materials exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than those of the pure g-C3N4. Specifically, the degradation rate of 2Fe(Ш)-CN under visible light was 2.06 times higher for MO and 2.65 times higher for TC than that of g-C3N4. The increased photocatalytic activities of Fe(Ш)-CN were mainly attributed to the enhanced light absorption ability and the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the importance of active species during the reaction process was also explored, and the results indicated that •O2− is the main active species.