Facile synthesis and characterization of noble metals decorated g-C3N4 (g-C3N4/Pt and g-C3N4/Pd) nanocomposites for efficient photocatalytic production of Schiff bases

Abstract

In this work, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was synthesized by directly heating melamine at 550 oC and then a certain amount of Pt and Pd was deposited on it to form g-C3N4/Pt and g-C3N4/Pd nanocomposites used as photocatalysts for the formation of Schiff bases via a mixture of aldehydes (1a-n) (1 mmol) and thiosemicarbazide (1mmol) and 30 mg of the catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 27°C in visible light irradiation. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by various techniques. The photocatalytic activity results show as the synthesized g-C3N4/Pd composite demonstrated towards higher activity with superior yield (>95%) compared to the pristine g-C3N4 nanosheets and/or g-C3N4/Pt composite due to Pd act as an admirable promoter and light absorbing efficiency. With the addition of noble metals (Pt and Pd) to g-C3N4 nanosheets in the composite, photocatalytic response increased significantly which confirms the synergy between the catalytic activity of noble metals and g-C3N4 nanosheets.