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Stabilization of melon phase during the formation of g-C3N4 from melamine and its structure-property relationship towards photocatalytic degradation of dyes under sunlight

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Abstract

The structure-property relationship of various intermediates formed during the step-wise dwell-in thermal condensation of melamine to g-C3N4 under a range of reaction temperatures such as 350, 400, 450 and 500 °C is investigated. Apart from the conventional intermediates such as melam and melem, the melon phase has been stabilized via dwell-in thermal condensation temperature at 450 °C. The properties of this melon phase are explored by comparing the characteristics of melam, melem and g-C3N4 using structural, morphological and optical studies. Finally, the photocatalytic properties of all these structures (melam, melem, melon and g-C3N4) have been investigated towards the degradation of dyes such as methylene blue (48, 56, 78 and 93%, respectively), rhodamine B (19, 36, 64 and 89%, respectively) and their mixtures (i.e. MB + RhB) under sunlight irradiation. From the obtained results, it is predicted that this melon phase may consist the modified-heptazine frameworks and more terminal-amine groups. Such features enable this melon phase to have appropriate band edge potentials, narrow band gap energy (~ 2.89, 2.80, 2.72 and 2.64 eV, respectively) with rapid charge separation abilities and thereby to have excellent optical and photocatalytic properties as compared to the other intermediates.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors MS gratefully acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for funding support through DST-INSPIRE Faculty Award (DST/INSPIRE/04/ 2016/002227).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Madras, Guindy campus, Chennai, 600025, Tamil Nadu, India

    R. Vijayarangan & R. Ilangovan

  2. Centre for Nano and Material Sciences, Jain University, Bangalore, 562112, Karnataka, India

    M. Sakar

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  1. R. Vijayarangan
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  2. M. Sakar
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Correspondence to R. Ilangovan.

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Vijayarangan, R., Sakar, M. & Ilangovan, R. Stabilization of melon phase during the formation of g-C3N4 from melamine and its structure-property relationship towards photocatalytic degradation of dyes under sunlight. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 33, 9057–9065 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07108-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-021-07108-6

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