Fabrication of g-C3N4@porphyrin nanorods hybrid material via CTAB surfactant-assisted self-assembly for photocatalytic degradation of Cr(VI) and methylene blue

Abstract

Photocatalysts are an attractive solution for pollutant degradation under sunlight irradiation. One approach that has been proposed to enhance their activity is to combine two semiconductors, which can broaden the photon energy harvesting regions and improve charge separation. Herein, a facile approach to fabricating a g-C3N4@porphyrin nanorods hybrid material is presented using CTAB surfactant-assisted self-assembly of monomeric porphyrin molecules and g-C3N4 nanomaterials. Using different technical methods, the hybrid material was studied, and it was found that the porphyrin nanorods on the surface of g-C3N4 were all in the same place. The photocatalytic performance of the hybrid material was evaluated by investigating its behavior for the photo-oxidation and -degradation of Cr+6 ions and methylene blue organic dye under simulated sunlight irradiation. High photocatalytic performance towards these two pollutants was exhibited by the hybrid material with a removal percentage of nearly 100% after 100 min of reaction time under the simulated sunlight spectrum. Also, a possible photocatalytic mechanism of the C3N4@porphyrin nanorods photocatalyst was proposed. This mechanism involved the efficient separation and transfer of photo-induced electrons and holes on the surface of the hybrid material. This work offers a simple and efficient method for creating high-performance photocatalysts, and we have made progress in our understanding of their photocatalytic mechanisms. The findings have important implications for wastewater treatment and solar energy conversion. The use of this hybrid material may contribute to addressing environmental challenges and assist in building sustainable energy systems.