Metal-free heterojunction of black phosphorus/oxygen-enriched porous g-C <sub>3</sub>N <sub>4</sub> as an efficient photocatalyst for Fenton-like cascade water purification

Author(s): Jundie Hu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Cao Chen ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Tao Hu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Jingsha Li ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Hao Lu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Yang Zheng ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Xiaogang Yang ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Chunxian Guo ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Chang Ming Li ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵

Publication date (Electronic): 2020

Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry A

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

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Abstract

Here we present a fascinating design to synthesize a metal-free photocatalyst for highly selective H ₂O ₂ production and efficient water purification via a Fenton-like cascade reaction.

Abstract

It is significant to directly use solar energy for selective H ₂O ₂ production and subsequent water purification through a Fenton reaction that converts H ₂O ₂ into highly active free radicals. Nevertheless, the efficiency of such a promising route is still unsatisfactory due to the low sunlight utilization, poor selectivity towards H ₂O ₂ production, and the requirement of additional Fe-based co-catalysts in the Fenton reaction. Here we present a fascinating design to synthesize a metal-free photocatalyst for highly selective H ₂O ₂ production and efficient water purification via a Fenton-like cascade reaction. A BP/OPCN heterojunction is constructed for the first time by assembling 2D oxygen-enriched porous g-C ₃N ₄ (OPCN) with 2D black phosphorus (BP), which can effectively promote the visible light response and charge separation. Further investigation reveals that the surface oxygen groups and nanopores of the OPCN are critical both in increasing the active sites and in enhancing the selectivity of H ₂O ₂ production. The highest H ₂O ₂ production rate of BP/OPCN reaches a remarkable value of 3463 μmol h ⁻¹ g ⁻¹, which is much higher than that of reported g-C ₃N ₄-related materials. The large amount of H ₂O ₂ produced in situ over BP/OPCN can subsequently undergo a Fenton-like cascade reaction to degrade organic pollutants in wastewater in only one step. This work demonstrates an efficient photocatalytic approach to produce H ₂O ₂ and purify wastewater, while discovering the fundamental roles of the surface chemistry and physical structure of the photocatalyst.

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Black phosphorus field-effect transistors

Likai Li, Yijun Yu, Guo Jun Ye … (2014)

Two-dimensional crystals have emerged as a class of materials that may impact future electronic technologies. Experimentally identifying and characterizing new functional two-dimensional materials is challenging, but also potentially rewarding. Here, we fabricate field-effect transistors based on few-layer black phosphorus crystals with thickness down to a few nanometres. Reliable transistor performance is achieved at room temperature in samples thinner than 7.5 nm, with drain current modulation on the order of 10(5) and well-developed current saturation in the I-V characteristics. The charge-carrier mobility is found to be thickness-dependent, with the highest values up to ∼ 1,000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) obtained for a thickness of ∼ 10 nm. Our results demonstrate the potential of black phosphorus thin crystals as a new two-dimensional material for applications in nanoelectronic devices.