Establishing WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 Composite for “Memory” Photocatalytic Activity and Enhancement in Photocatalytic Degradation

Tungsten trioxide and graphitic carbon nitride composite materials (designed as WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 ) were constructed via a facile hydrothermal process. The excellent “catalytic memory” activity of WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 was discovered and applied in organic pollutants degradation for the first time . With 3 h pre-illumination, nearly 42.33% Rhodamine B (RhB) was removed in the dark by WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 via its nearly 8 h “memory” photocatalytic activity. In addition, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of RhB was 97.46% with WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 under the visible light. Meanwhile, the “memory” photocatalytic activity enhanced photocatalysis and effectively promoted the WO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 mediated organism degradation. Graphical Abstract