Constructive Z-scheme interfacial charge transfer of a spinel ferrite-supported g-C3N4 heterojunction architect for photocatalytic degradation

Abstract

The design and fabrication of metal ferrite-supported porous g-C3N4 (p-GCN) tandem heterojunctions constructed via the hydrothermal method. Phase identification, morphology, magnetic, thermal, and electrochemical properties were studied. The physicochemical characteristic studies confirmed the effective interaction and formation of the heterojunction architect. The fabricated materials were employed as a photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), tetracycline (TC), cartap hydrochloride (C-HCl), and complex effluent (RhB+TC+C-HCl) under sunlight irradiation. The p-GCN/AgFe2O4 (p-GCN/AFO) heterojunction demonstrates outstanding performance within 60 min of irradiation (RhB- 98.3%, TC- 98.5%, C-HCl- 99.56%, and complex effluent- 95.72%), whereas p-GCN/MgFe2O4 (p-GCN/MFO) shows slightly reduced activity (RhB- 97.14%, TC- 97.62%, C-HCl- 99.23%, and complex effluent- 91.05%). The performance improvement of nanocomposites is due to complementary sunlight absorption, sequential energy, and electron transfer properties, efficient charge separation, and excellent redox potential of its heterojunction structure. Furthermore, a thorough mechanism analysis suggests the essential role of reactive oxygen species (•OH and •O2-) and it is proposed that the nanocomposite photocatalyst follows a Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism. The high catalytic activity, the magnetic recoverability, and the excellent stability of p-GCN/AFO make it a potential candidate for the degradation of multiple organic contaminants in various industry sectors.