Three dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of g-C3N4 nanosheets/TiO2 nanofibers: Controllable growth via gas-solid reaction and enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light.

Graphitic C 3 N 4 nanosheets were uniformly grown on electrospun TiO 2 nanofibers with three-dimensional nanofibrous networks via a facial gas-solid reaction. The mass loading of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets could be easily controlled by adjusting the mass ratios of gaseous precursors (urea) to TiO 2 NFs. The three-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets/TiO 2 nanofibers could be obtained with excellent distribution and high specific surface area of 121.5 m 2 g −1 , when the mass loading of g-C 3 N 4 was 59.8 wt.%. Under visible light irradiation, the degradation rate constant (rhodamine B) and the H 2 evolution rate of the heterostructures were about 4.6 and 1.6 times of pure g-C 3 N 4 , while 23 and 167.8 times of TiO 2 nanofibers, respectively. Their enhanced performance could be attributed to the effective charge separation and electron transfer process. Our work provides an attractive strategy to construct various three-dimensional hierarchical heterostructures of g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets for environmental and energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]