Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activity by Fe(Ш)-Doped Graphitic C₃N₄

Fe(Ш)-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Fe(Ш)-CN) photocatalysts with various Fe(Ш) ions content were prepared via ultrasonic method. Detailed physical characterization indicated that Fe(Ш) ions had been successfully doped into the frame of g-C₃N₄. The photocatalytic activities were investigated, and methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) were used as the targeted pollutants. The as-prepared Fe(Ш)-CN materials exhibited higher photocatalytic activities than those of the pure g-C₃N₄. Specifically, the degradation rate of 2Fe(Ш)-CN under visible light was 2.06 times higher for MO and 2.65 times higher for TC than that of g-C₃N₄. The increased photocatalytic activities of Fe(Ш)-CN were mainly attributed to the enhanced light absorption ability and the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the importance of active species during the reaction process was also explored, and the results indicated that •O₂^- is the main active species.