NiCoP cocatalyst modified g-C₃N₄ as ohmic junction photocatalyst for efficient degradation of tetracycline under...

Increasing the electron-hole recombination rate in g-C₃N₄ can effectively improve its photocatalytic performance. In this work, NiCoP/g-C₃N₄ (NCP/PCN) composites with ohmic junction were formed by embedding granular NiCoP in irregularly porous g-C₃N₄. There was almost no barrier between the metal and the semiconductor in ohmic junction, which made it easier for electrons to slip from PCN to NCP along the curved energy band, and NCP acted as an electron collector to rapidly capture the slipping electrons. In addition, porous g-C₃N₄ prepared by supramolecular self-assembly could provide a shorter diffusion path for electrons. Thus, the electron-hole was effectively separated and the photocatalytic performance was improved. The band electronic structure and existence of ohmic junction in 7-NCP/PCN composite were demonstrated by XPS, ESR and DFT calculation. Finally, a reasonable photocatalytic degradation mechanism and possible tetracycline degradation path were proposed. This work has significant potential for providing an effective method for the design of non-precious metal photocatalysts.