In situ synthesis of C₃N₄/Bi₂S₃ composites with enhanced photocatalytic degradation performance under visible light irradiation

Abstract

Carbon nitride/bismuth sulfide (C 3 N 4 /Bi 2 S 3 ) nanocomposites were prepared by a facile one‐step in situ calcination method using ammonium thiocyanate and bismuth chloride as reagents. The crystal structure, composition, and morphology of the nanocomposites were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) was carried out to evaluate the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites under visible light irradiation. The as‐prepared C 3 N 4 /Bi 2 S 3 nanocomposites displayed enhanced visible light absorption. These photocatalysts exhibited superior photodegradation performance under visible light irradiation compared to pure C 3 N 4 . Meanwhile, the C 3 N 4 /Bi 2 S 3 nanocomposites exhibited remarkably stable photocatalytic efficiency after five cycles of photodegradation of RhB. The C 3 N 4 /Bi 2 S 3 heterostructure improved the separation and transfer efficiency of the photogenerated electron–hole pairs. It played an important role for the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the nanocomposite photocatalysts.