Author
Lei Ge
Other affiliations: Tianjin University, University of California, Riverside
Bio: Lei Ge is an academic researcher from China University of Petroleum. The author has contributed to research in topics: Photocatalysis & Methyl orange. The author has an hindex of 38, co-authored 90 publications receiving 6412 citations. Previous affiliations of Lei Ge include Tianjin University & University of California, Riverside.
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this article, a novel visible light-induced g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by introducing polymeric g-c3n4.
Abstract: Novel visible light-induced g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 composite photocatalysts were synthesized by introducing polymeric g-C3N4. The obtained g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The DRS results revealed that the g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 samples had a red shift and strong absorption in the visible light region. The photocatalytic oxidation ability of the novel photocatalyst was evaluated using methyl orange as a target pollutant. The photocatalysts exhibited a significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance in degrading methyl orange. The optimal g-C3N4 content for the photocatalytic activity of the heterojunction structures was determined. The synergic effect between g-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 was found to lead to an improved photo-generated carrier separation. Consequently, the photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 composites under visible light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) was enhanced. The possible photocatalytic mechanism of the composites was proposed to guide the further improvement of their photocatalytic activity.
678 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of CdS content on the rate of visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was investigated for different loadings using platinum as a cocatalyst in methanol aqueous solutions.
Abstract: Novel CdS quantum dot (QD)-coupled graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts were synthesized via a chemical impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The effect of CdS content on the rate of visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was investigated for different CdS loadings using platinum as a cocatalyst in methanol aqueous solutions. The synergistic effect of g-C3N4 and CdS QDs leads to efficient separation of the photogenerated charge carriers and, consequently, enhances the visible light photocatalytic H2 production activity of the materials. The optimal CdS QD content is determined to be 30 wt %, and the corresponding H2 evolution rate was 17.27 μmol·h–1 under visible light irradiation, ∼9 times that of pure g-C3N4. A possible photocatalytic mechanism of the CdS/g-C3N4 comp...
630 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a novel polymeric g-C3N4 photocatalysts loaded with noble metal Ag nanoparticles were prepared via a facile heating method, and they were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), TEM, HRTEM, X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-vis diffuse reflection spectra (DRS), and photoluminescence spectra.
Abstract: Novel polymeric g-C3N4 photocatalysts loaded with noble metal Ag nanoparticles were prepared via a facile heating method. The obtained Ag/g-C3N4 composite products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV–vis diffuse reflection spectra (DRS) and photoluminescence spectra (PL). The photocatalytic activities of Ag/g-C3N4 samples were investigated based on the decomposition of methyl orange and hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. The XPS results revealed that it was the metallic Ag0 deposited on polymeric g-C3N4 samples. The Ag/g-C3N4 photocatalysts exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance for the degradation of methyl orange and hydrogen production compared with pure g-C3N4. The optimal Ag content was determined to be 1.0 wt%, and the corresponding hydrogen evolution rate was 10.105 μmol h−1, which exceeded that of pure g-C3N4 by more than 11.7 times. The enhanced photocatalytic performance could be attributed to the synergic effect between Ag and g-C3N4, which promoted the migration efficiency of photo-generated carriers. The proposed mechanism for the enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 modified by a small amount of Ag was further confirmed by photoluminescence spectroscopy.
579 citations
TL;DR: In this article, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composite photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile heating method.
Abstract: Novel multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) composite photocatalysts were synthesized via a facile heating method. The resulting MWNTs/g-C3N4 composite photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy (DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The photoelectrochemical I–t curves were tested using several on–off cycles of visible light irradiation. The visible light photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was investigated for MWNTs/g-C3N4 in methanol aqueous solutions. The optimal MWNTs content is determined to be 2.0 wt%; and corresponding H2 evolution rate is 7.58 μmol h−1, about 3.7 folds that of pure g-C3N4. A possible mechanism of MWNTs on the enhancement of visible light performance is proposed. It suggests that MWNTs play key roles, which may lead to efficiently separation of the photo-generated charge carriers and, consequently, enhance the visible light photocatalytic H2 production activity.
484 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a facile impregnation method was used to obtain molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) composite photocatalysts.
364 citations
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TL;DR: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent.
Abstract: This critical review shows the basis of photocatalytic water splitting and experimental points, and surveys heterogeneous photocatalyst materials for water splitting into H2 and O2, and H2 or O2 evolution from an aqueous solution containing a sacrificial reagent Many oxides consisting of metal cations with d0 and d10 configurations, metal (oxy)sulfide and metal (oxy)nitride photocatalysts have been reported, especially during the latest decade The fruitful photocatalyst library gives important information on factors affecting photocatalytic performances and design of new materials Photocatalytic water splitting and H2 evolution using abundant compounds as electron donors are expected to contribute to construction of a clean and simple system for solar hydrogen production, and a solution of global energy and environmental issues in the future (361 references)
8,850 citations
TL;DR: It is anticipated that this review can stimulate a new research doorway to facilitate the next generation of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts with ameliorated performances by harnessing the outstanding structural, electronic, and optical properties for the development of a sustainable future without environmental detriment.
Abstract: As a fascinating conjugated polymer, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has become a new research hotspot and drawn broad interdisciplinary attention as a metal-free and visible-light-responsive photocatalyst in the arena of solar energy conversion and environmental remediation. This is due to its appealing electronic band structure, high physicochemical stability, and “earth-abundant” nature. This critical review summarizes a panorama of the latest progress related to the design and construction of pristine g-C3N4 and g-C3N4-based nanocomposites, including (1) nanoarchitecture design of bare g-C3N4, such as hard and soft templating approaches, supramolecular preorganization assembly, exfoliation, and template-free synthesis routes, (2) functionalization of g-C3N4 at an atomic level (elemental doping) and molecular level (copolymerization), and (3) modification of g-C3N4 with well-matched energy levels of another semiconductor or a metal as a cocatalyst to form heterojunction nanostructures. The constructi...
5,054 citations
TL;DR: The unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials are introduced, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures, and the assortments of their synthetic methods are summarized.
Abstract: Since the discovery of mechanically exfoliated graphene in 2004, research on ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials has grown exponentially in the fields of condensed matter physics, material science, chemistry, and nanotechnology. Highlighting their compelling physical, chemical, electronic, and optical properties, as well as their various potential applications, in this Review, we summarize the state-of-art progress on the ultrathin 2D nanomaterials with a particular emphasis on their recent advances. First, we introduce the unique advances on ultrathin 2D nanomaterials, followed by the description of their composition and crystal structures. The assortments of their synthetic methods are then summarized, including insights on their advantages and limitations, alongside some recommendations on suitable characterization techniques. We also discuss in detail the utilization of these ultrathin 2D nanomaterials for wide ranges of potential applications among the electronics/optoelectronics, electrocat...
3,628 citations
TL;DR: The photo-catalytic applications of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts in the fields of water splitting, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, organic syntheses, and bacterial disinfection are reviewed, with emphasis on photocatalysis promoted by carbon materials, non-noble-metal coc atalysts, and Z-scheme heterojunctions.
Abstract: Semiconductor-based photocatalysis is considered to be an attractive way for solving the worldwide energy shortage and environmental pollution issues. Since the pioneering work in 2009 on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for visible-light photocatalytic water splitting, g-C3N4 -based photocatalysis has become a very hot research topic. This review summarizes the recent progress regarding the design and preparation of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts, including the fabrication and nanostructure design of pristine g-C3N4 , bandgap engineering through atomic-level doping and molecular-level modification, and the preparation of g-C3N4 -based semiconductor composites. Also, the photo-catalytic applications of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts in the fields of water splitting, CO2 reduction, pollutant degradation, organic syntheses, and bacterial disinfection are reviewed, with emphasis on photocatalysis promoted by carbon materials, non-noble-metal cocatalysts, and Z-scheme heterojunctions. Finally, the concluding remarks are presented and some perspectives regarding the future development of g-C3N4 -based photocatalysts are highlighted.
2,868 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the fundamental mechanism of heterogeneous photocatalysis, advantages, challenges and the design considerations of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts are summarized, including their crystal structural, surface phisicochemical, stability, optical, adsorption, electrochemical, photoelectrochemical and electronic properties.
2,132 citations