In situ preparation of g-C3N4/polyaniline hybrid composites with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic performance.

The graphic carbon nitride/polyaniline (g-C3N4/PANI) hybrid composites were successfully synthesized by a facile in situ polymerization process under ice water bath. The photocatalytic activities of the g-C3N4/PANI composites were evaluated by using oxytetracycline (OTC) as model pollutants. The optimal g-C3N4/PANI composite (5%PANI: the g-C3N4/PANI hybrid with 5 wt.% of PANI) showed an enhancement degradation rate of 5-fold compared to that of conventional g-C3N4 under simulated-sunlight irradiation. In addition, the 5%PANI demonstrate significantly photocatalytic evolution H2 rate (163.2 μmol/(g⋅hr)) under the visible light irradiation. Furthermore, based on the results of optical performance and electrochemical testing, a possible mechanism was proposed, indicating that the incorporation of PANI into the traditional g-C3N4 can effectively tune the electronic structures, improve the photo-generated electrons-holes separation and enhance extensive absorption of visible light. Such a g-C3N4/PANI hybrid nanocomposites could be envisaged to possess great potentials in practical wastewater treatment and water splitting.