Facile synthesis and immobilization of MoS2 and SnO2 co-modified g-C3N4 ternary heterostructure for enhanced visible light photodegradation of RhB

Constructing heterojunctions is an important strategy for enhancing the separation efficiency of charge carriers in graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ). Meanwhile, immobilization enables the recycle of g-C 3 N 4 -based photocatalysts from wastewater. Herein, a visible light-responsive MoS 2 and SnO 2 co-modified g-C 3 N 4 ternary heterostructure was synthesized via one-pot calcination and subsequently immobilized in a modified bacterial cellulose (BC) aerogel through freeze-drying. The prepared ternary heterojunction exhibited enhanced visible light-harvesting capacity and charge separation efficiency due to intimate interfaces and the synergy effect of different components. It showed a degrade rate constant 3.43 times higher than that of g-C 3 N 4 , and degraded 99.3 % of RhB (30 mg/L) at pH 6.5 after 30 min of irradiation, and 99.1 % at pH 5 after 15 min. Owing to dispersion improved by sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) and the strength and hydrophobicity enhanced by methoxytrimethylsilane (MTMS), the prepared aerogel degraded 98.7 % of RhB (30 mg/L) at 60 min irradiation, and maintained 94.0 % after 6 cycles. This work demonstrates a highly efficient MoS 2 -SnO 2 -g-C 3 N 4 ternary photocatalyst and a practical immobilization route for application in purification of dye wastewater.