Arat, RefikFidan, TuçeYüce, MeralKurt, HasanBayazıt, Mustafa Kemal2024-01-162024-01-162024Arat, R., Fidan, T., Yüce, M., Kurt, H. ve Bayazıt, M. K. (2024). Non-destructive covalent surface alkylation of graphitic carbon nitride for enhanced photocatalytic dye degradation in water. FlatChem, 43. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.flatc.2023.1005992452-2627https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.flatc.2023.100599https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12511/12147Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is a promising material for various applications due to its unique electronic, optical, and photocatalytic properties, tunable by surface modifications. Herein, a novel and straightforward approach to the covalent addition of low molecular weight polyethylene glycol (PEG550) to g-CNs surface following non-destructive chemistry benefiting from simultaneous activation of hydroxyl and free-amine surface groups by a weak base, potassium carbonate, is for the first time described. The resulting g-CN-PEG550 exhibits almost two-fold enhanced water solubility due to 1 PEG550 chain addition for every ? 128 g-CN atoms, detected by thermogravimetric analysis. Complementary X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy elemental analysis of the isolated g-CN-PEG550 displays an increased C?O chemical environment attributed to the covalent addition of carbon- and oxygen-rich PEG550 to the g-CN surface. The g-CN-PEG550 photocatalyst performs 2.5-fold better in degrading rhodamine B due to its enhanced light absorption, improved water-dispersibility, and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs compared to the as-prepared g-CN. The study underscores the potential use of covalently PEGylated oxygen-rich g-CNs in photocatalytic applications.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccessDye DegradationGraphitic Carbon NitrideNon-Destructive AlkylationOxygen-Rich PhotocatalystRhodamine BArticle4310.1016/j.flatc.2023.100599Q20011462679000012-s2.0-85180809416Q1