Electric Field Driven of Tourmaline/g‐C₃N₄ Photocatalyst with Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance and High‐Efficient Pollutant Degradation

Abstract Photocatalysis technology of g‐C₃N₄ is of great value in wastewater treatment, thus calling for developing a concise and high‐efficiency method to improve its photocatalytic efficiency. Here, a novel photocatalyst consisting of tourmaline particles (TPs) and graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) is prepared by a step calcining method with enhanced photocatalytic performance. The self‐polarized electric field of TPs attracts the photogenerated electrons generated by the catalyst and delays the recombination rate of electron‐hole pairs, for which reason the prepared photocatalyst exhibits a wider spectral response and stronger photocatalytic activity. The mechanism analysis exhibits that the reactive substances including h⁺, ·OH, ¹O₂, and ·O₂⁻ generated by TPs/g‐C₃N₄ effectively eliminate the contaminant during photocatalysis. The degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB) of g‐C₃N₄‐0.5% TPs is increased from 88.47% to 97.76% after 30 min illumination compared with pure g‐C₃N₄. Furthermore, to facilitate catalyst recycling and reuse, a photocatalytic lignocellulose membrane is prepared. After five cycles, the degradation efficiency of the membrane decreases from 97.89% to 95.54%, still maintaining 97.60%. This study has constructed an innovative tourmaline/g‐C₃N₄ photocatalyst and recyclable photocatalytic lignocellulose membrane with enhanced pollutant degradation properties by introducing naturally polarized minerals, providing a new approach for efficient water treatment.