A series of inorganic acid posttreatmented carbon nitride were synthesized to regulate the electronic structure, surface properties and then improve the photocatalytic activity. Carbon nitride displayed a thinner and smaller nanosheet after acid posttreatment, which could provide more exposed active sites and improve charge carrier separation. The result of electronic band gap structure revealed that phosphoric acid treated sample (HP-CN) owned a more positive valence band edge, endowing its a higher oxidation ability. Furthermore, electron spin resonance (EPR) and transient photoinduced voltage (TPV) analysis demonstrated that acid treated carbon nitride owned a higher electron-hole pairs separation and transfer efficiency, then boosting the photocatalytic performance. HP-CN possess an optimal removal efficiency of 87.7% towards Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B (RBR X-3B), which was 1.62 times than that of g-C3N4. Meanwhile, HP-CN also owned an outstanding stability ability and satisfactory removal property towards RhB (Rhodamine B) and TC (Tetracycline), proving its potential application in environmental remediation. The photocatalytic mechanism measurement indicated photogenerated h+, ·O2- and ·OH played critical roles during photocatalytic RBR X-3B decomposition.

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