Preparation of g-C3N4/Ta2O5 Composites with Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalytic Activity

Abstract

g-C3N4/Ta2O5 composites have been synthesized by a facile route in which mixtures of Ta2O5 and urea are heated at various temperatures of 450A degrees C, 500A degrees C, and 550A degrees C. The obtained materials (denoted as CN/TaO-T, where T is the heating temperature) were characterized using x-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, diffuse-reflectance ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that the as-prepared composites are in orthorhombic Ta2O5 phase coated by g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity of the composites was evaluated by photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light. Among the three materials, CN/TaO-500 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity. The improved photocatalytic activity of the g-C3N4/Ta2O5 composites is attributed to the presence of g-C3N4 in the materials.