Epitaxial Vertical Growth of Carbon Nitride-based Homojunction Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

doi:10.1007/s40242-025-5111-z

Abstract

Abstract: The design and construction of vertical heteroepitaxial structures, although challenging, offer an ideal approach due to their open charge transport pathways and strong interfacial coupling effects. Herein, a supramolecular precursor derived from melamine and cyanuric acid was synthesized via sulfuric acid-assisted hydrothermal treatment. Subsequent temperature-controlled calcination enabled the in situ formation of a carbon nitride-based homojunction photocatalyst (CN/S-TCN) featuring a vertical epitaxial structure. This unique configuration effectively integrates the vertically aligned geometry with the intrinsic two-dimensional layered structure of graphitic carbon nitride. Consequently, the CN/S-TCN homojunction exhibits shortened charge transfer pathways, accelerated surface charge transfer kinetics, optimized band structure, and increased active site density. As a result, the CN/S-TCN catalyst demonstrated exceptional visible-light photocatalytic activity and stability, achieving 89% degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) within one hour. Radical trapping experiments identified superoxide radicals (^·O₂^-) as the predominant active species responsible for TCH degradation. This work provides a valuable foundation for the design of such composite materials and the development of efficient photocatalysts.

Key words: Epitaxial vertical growth, Carbon nitride, Homojunction, Visible-light photocatalysis

GAO Juanfeng, LIN Xiao, JIANG Bowen, TANG Senpei, ZHANG Haiyan, CHEN Feitai, JIN Zhiliang, LI Youji, Noritatsu Tsubaki. Epitaxial Vertical Growth of Carbon Nitride-based Homojunction Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Hydrochloride[J]. Chemical Research in Chinese Universities, 2025, 41(4): 868-879.

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