Synthesis and Characterization of Sulfur-Doped g-C₃N₄ Nanosheets for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity in The Removal of Organic Pollutants

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Esfarayen University of Technology, Esfarayen, North Khorasan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Graphitic carbon nitride (g−C3N4) is a promising metal-free semiconductor for photocatalytic applications. However, its efficiency is often limited by rapid charge carrier recombination and relatively low visible light absorption. This research aimed to significantly enhance the photocatalytic properties of g−C3N4 through sulfur doping, specifically for the degradation of the organic dye, methylene blue.
Materials and Methods: g−C3N4 nanosheets were synthesized via the thermal exfoliation of melamine. To assess the successful doping process and the preservation of the nanosheet structure, a set of characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy, was employed.
Results: The optimized sulfur-doped sample (S-CN-1.5) exhibited significantly superior performance compared to the pure g−C3N4. This sample degraded approximately 95% of methylene blue within 160 minutes under visible light irradiation, whereas pure g−C3N4 achieved only about 70% degradation in the same period. This enhanced efficiency is attributed to the reduction in band gap from 2.75 eV for pure g−C3N4 to 2.47 eV for S-CN-1.5, which led to increased visible light absorption.
Conclusion: Overall, sulfur doping of g−C3N4 is an effective strategy to boost its photocatalytic performance in pollutant degradation. This approach paves the way for developing more efficient and environmentally friendly materials for various environmental applications.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Advanced Materials in Engineering
Volume 45, Issue 1
March 2026
Pages 33-48

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