Boosting charge separation and nitrogen vacancies in graphitic carbon nitride by implanted strontium vanadate for highly efficient photocatalytic reduction of hexavalent chromium

Strontium vanadate nanoparticles embedded graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄/Sr₂V₂O₇) was facilely prepared in situ via a hydrothermal method. It was shown that the Sr₂V₂O₇ nanoparticles implanted into g-carbon nitride had a small size and high distribution. Importantly, compared with some other photocatalysts, the as-prepared g-C₃N₄/Sr₂V₂O₇ nanohybrid showed excellent photocatalytic activity for reduction of Cr(vi), and as high as 99% efficiency for Cr(vi) reduction (100 mg L⁻¹) was reached within 8 min. Moreover, its activity was hardly changed after five cycles, demonstrating that the developed g-C₃N₄/Sr₂V₂O₇ nanohybrid was highly stable and promising an efficacious disposal of Cr(vi) in water. It was confirmed that the improved charge separation owing to more nitrogen vacancies in the hybrid was the main reason for the improved performance of the g-C₃N₄-Sr₂V₂O₇ nanohybrid.

A well-dispersed strontium vanadate implanted into graphitic carbon nitride showed excellent photocatalytic activity for Cr(vi) reduction. The improved charge separation owing to more nitrogen vacancies was the main reason for its enhanced activity.