Heterogeneous activation of peroxymonosulfate by Cu+-decorated g-C3N4 under sunlight for degradation of organic pollutants

This article is an in-depth study of the basis of Cu + -decorated triazine-based g-C 3 N 4 (Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 ) nanosheet-activated H 2 O 2 . In this study, peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was activated by Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 under sunlight and used to treat simulated wastewater RhB. The properties of g-C 3 N 4 and Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 were characterized by UV–Vis DRS and PL . The results indicated that the introduction of Cu + in g-C 3 N 4 can enhance the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 (1:4) samples exhibited the best PMS activation performance under sunlight when 0.5 g/L catalyst dose and 0.5 mmol/L PMS concentration were used, and the removal rate of RhB reached 95.7% in 30 min. Moreover, better catalytic activity of the system can be achieved in the initial pH range of 2.0–10.0. The investigation results of the catalytic mechanisms showed that the prepared Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 catalyst constructs a dual reaction center of Cu + /Cu 2+ cycling and e CB − / h VB + transfer for efficient PMS activation. The degradation of pollutants benefits from the participation of a variety of free radicals, which are generated by sunlight-assisted heterogeneous activation of PMS. This study has resulted in substantial progress in activating multiple oxidants with a single heterogeneous catalyst and provides a feasible way to treat refractory wastewater using Cu + /g-C 3 N 4 with PMS under sunlight.