Few-layered g-C3N4-derived core–shell isotype heterojunction photocatalysts for efficient environmental remediation

In this paper, a series of isotype heterojunction photocatalysts with urea-derived g-C 3 N 4 (CNU) as the core and cyanamide-derived g-C 3 N 4 (CNC) as the shell are reported. A much thinner CNC shell which can protect the CNU core from thermal etching and determines the light absorption is beneficial to improve the photocarrier transfer and separation efficiency, pore volume, and the overall crystalline degree of the most active CNU/CNC2 core–shell isotype heterojunction photocatalyst for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. Contrast experiments confirm that the electron-derived oxidant species (⋅O 2 − ) play key roles in driving the RhB degradation.