Construction of a hierarchical NiFe2O4/ CuInSe2 (p-n) heterojunction: Highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalyst in the degradation of endocrine disruptors in an aqueous medium

Abstract

The present study reports the effective solid-state preparation of CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites by simple MOF-assisted synthesis at moderate temperatures. The as-synthesized CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were systematically analysed to evaluate their structural and morphological features using XRD, SEM, and HRTEM. The photocatalytic performances of the CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were evaluated for the degradation of two endocrine disruptors namely, bisphenol-A and resorcinol. The photocatalytic performances revealed that the CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite enabled a higher removal rate of bisphenol-A and resorcinol under visible light. The generated (°OH) and holes (h+) played a major role in CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites by the removing of aqueous bisphenol-A and resorcinol. In addition, CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 photocatalysts could be easily separated from treated wastewater by using an external magnetic field and they were easily recycled, making them an ideal candidate for environmental remediation. Here, CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites were prepared for the first time by coupling MOF-derived NiFe2O4 with CuInSe2 in the solid-state, route was reported for the first time. From the experimental results and degradation studies, we proposed photocatalytic mechanisms for improving CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite photocatalytic performance. The well-organized heterostructure effect and effective separation of photoinduced charge carriers between NiFe2O4 and CuInSe2 enabled faster degradation. The synthesized recyclable CuInSe2/NiFe2O4 nanocomposite has been applied as an alternative photocatalyst material in the treatment of both households and various industrial pollutants.