Nitrogen photofixation ability of g-C3N4 nanosheets/Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst under visible-light illumination
Authors: Elham Vesali-Kermani
Srabanti Ghosh
Aziz Habibi-Yangjeh
Hadi Diarmand-Khalilabad
Journal: Journal of Colloid and Interface Science (2020)
Discipline: CHEMISTRY
Keywords: Bi(2)MoO(6); Heterojunction; N(2) photofixation; Visible-light photocatalyst; g-C(3)N(4) nanosheets.
Affiliations: Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, P.O. Box 179, Ardabil, Iran., Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, P.O. Box 179, Ardabil, Iran. Electronic address: ., Fuel Cell & Battery Division, CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, 196, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India.

Abstract:  In this study, we combined bismuth molybdate with graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets with different percentages of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%, in which noticeable N2 photoreduction under visible-light illumination was seen for the binary g-C3N4 nanosheets/Bi2MoO6 photocatalysts, denoted as NCN/BMO. The XPS, HRTEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, UV-vis DRS, N2 adsorption-desorption, FT-IR, TGA, PL, photocurrent, and EIS instruments were utilized to characterize the fabricated photocatalysts. The results displayed the construction of type-II heterojunction between the NCN and BMO components for the easy charge transfer. Under mild conditions and using ethanol as a hole scavenger, the NCN/BMO (30%) nanocomposite showed the maximum capability for ammonia generation by 3271 µmol/L g, which is 1.9 and 9.2 times higher than the NCN and BMO components, respectively. The effects of solvent type, pH of solution, and electron scavenger on the rate of NH4+ production were also studied and conversed. Finally, the stability of the NCN/BMO (30%) nanocomposite was evaluated for four cycles, in which the results were desirable. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 ![file] Results presented in these paper have more than a passing resemblance. I would be grateful if colleagues would consider these works and provide thoughts. https: doi.org 10.1016 j.ceramint.2020.06.232 https: doi.org 10.1016 j.jcis.2019.12.057 , 
 ![file] How can a TEM image of a photocatalyst in one article (TiO2 Cdots Bi4O5Br2 (20%)) be just a cropped part of a TEM image of another photocatalyst in another article (TiO2 Ag6Si2O7 C-Dots (0.75 mL)? , 
 ![file] It is an interesting cycle; first the SEM image of a sample (ZnO Ag6Si2O7) is reversed and then cut around it to become the SEM image of another sample (ZnO AgFeO2) in a different article. Is it possible to use A SEM image in TWO different articles for different samples? , 
 ![file] Two completely identical photoluminescence spectra for two different samples in two different articles. Is it possible for two different photocatalysts to have the same photoluminescence spectra so that even the smallest noises are no different? How is this possible ? Please convince me of the cause of this issue. , 
 #1 Many thanks for the comment. Due to the importance of ammonia production, many attempts have been made to produce it by cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technologies. Heterogeneous photocatalytic processes are promising procedures to convert nitrogen to ammonia at ambient conditions. In these regards, many photocatalysts have been designed and introduced to efficiently convert nitrogen to ammonia. After pioneering work in 1977, many TiO2, ZnO, and g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have been prepared and utilized for the nitrogen photofixation processes. About g-C3N4, more than 100 papers have been published about fabrication of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts and they were applied for these processes. In addition, in recent years, we prepared some new photocatalysts with high activity for nitrogen photofixation reaction by g-C3N4-based materials. In the paper entitled u201cNitrogen photofixation ability of g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst under visible-light illuminationu201d, we prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 photocatalysts by a facile refluxing method and applied them for the photofixation reaction. In another attempt titled u201cEfficiently enhanced nitrogen fixation performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets by decorating Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles under visible-light irradiationu201d, we decorated Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles over nanosheets of g-C3N4 by a two-step method. In these papers, the photocatalysts are totally different and they displayed different characteristics, activities, and stabilities. Thanks for your interest. , 
 Many thanks for the comment. Due to the importance of ammonia production, many attempts have been made to produce it by cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technologies. Heterogeneous photocatalytic processes are promising procedures to convert nitrogen to ammonia at ambient conditions. In these regards, many photocatalysts have been designed and introduced to efficiently convert nitrogen to ammonia. After pioneering work in 1977, many TiO2, ZnO, and g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have been prepared and utilized for the nitrogen photofixation processes. About g-C3N4, more than 100 papers have been published about fabrication of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts and they were applied for these processes. In addition, in recent years, we prepared some new photocatalysts with high activity for nitrogen photofixation reaction by g-C3N4-based materials. In the paper entitled u201cNitrogen photofixation ability of g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst under visible-light illuminationu201d, we prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 photocatalysts by a facile refluxing method and applied them for the photofixation reaction. In another attempt titled u201cEfficiently enhanced nitrogen fixation performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets by decorating Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles under visible-light irradiationu201d, we decorated Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles over nanosheets of g-C3N4 by a two-step method. In these papers, the photocatalysts are totally different and they displayed different characteristics, activities, and stabilities. Thanks for your interest. , 
 #1 Many thanks for the comment. Due to the importance of ammonia production, many attempts have been made to produce it by cost-effective and environmentally-friendly technologies. Heterogeneous photocatalytic processes are promising procedures to convert nitrogen to ammonia at ambient conditions. In these regards, many photocatalysts have been designed and introduced to efficiently convert nitrogen to ammonia. After pioneering work in 1977, many TiO2, ZnO, and g-C3N4-based photocatalysts have been prepared and utilized for the nitrogen photofixation processes. About g-C3N4, more than 100 papers have been published about fabrication of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts and they were applied for these processes. In addition, in recent years, we prepared some new photocatalysts with high activity for nitrogen photofixation reaction by g-C3N4-based materials. In the paper entitled u201cNitrogen photofixation ability of g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 heterojunction photocatalyst under visible-light illuminationu201d, we prepared g-C3N4 nanosheets Bi2MoO6 photocatalysts by a facile refluxing method and applied them for the photofixation reaction. In another attempt titled u201cEfficiently enhanced nitrogen fixation performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets by decorating Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles under visible-light irradiationu201d, we decorated Ni3V2O8 nanoparticles over nanosheets of g-C3N4 by a two-step method. In these papers, the photocatalysts are totally different and they displayed different characteristics, activities, and stabilities. Thanks for your interest. ,