An effective stannic oxide/graphitic carbon nitride (SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4) nanocomposite photocatalyst for organic pollutants degradation under visible-light

Abstract

Organic compounds have enhanced different industrial outputs, but many related environmental challenges, such as groundwater and surface water pollution related to these compounds, have piqued governments' and citizens' interest worldwide. Photocatalysis has recently been proven to be an effective method of eliminating these pollutants. This study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of 1-naphthyl methylcarbamate (carbaryl pesticide) and methyl orange (dye) using an efficient SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst. A straightforward solid-state technique created a mesoporous SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst with various SnO2 NP concentrations. Various analytical approaches were used to characterize the SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) patterns, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis). The degradation of carbaryl, as a model pesticide and methyl orange as a model dye, under visible light was tested to determine the photocatalytic activity of the SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite with various mass percentages of SnO2 NPs. The results showed that SnO2 NPs successfully improved the photoactivity of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic activity showed that the carbaryl photodegradation rate increased from 32% by g-C3N4 to 85% and 96% for methyl orange by SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst (20%), indicating that SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite is a promising photocatalyst for pesticides and dyes. The enhanced photodegradation effectiveness of SnO2 NPs@g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalyst was related to increased surface area and improved illumination radiation ability by successfully separating charge carriers.