Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) Microrods and Nanosheets Photocatalysts Immobilized on Water Hyacinth Cellulose Sponge for Photodegradation

Abstract

In this research, the researchers successfully fabricated photocatalysts hybrid materials using g-C3N4 microrods and g-C3N4 nanosheets, which were coated on water hyacinth cellulose sponges. The optical properties of the photocatalysts hybrid materials, specifically the g-C3N4 microrods and g-C3N4 nanosheets, were analyzed using a UV-vis spectrometer. The morphology of the g-C3N4 microrods and g-C3N4 nanosheets photocatalysts was examined using different procedures, including FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). The results obtained from the study indicate that g-C3N4 microrods exhibited a higher level of crystallinity or orderliness in terms of intramolecular orientation compared to g-C3N4 nanosheets. This suggests that the microrods possessed a more organized arrangement of atoms within the material structure. Furthermore, the energy bandgap values, as determined from the study, were found to be 2.25 eV for the microrods and 2.75 eV for the nanosheets. As part of this project, the photocatalysts, namely g-C3N4 microrods and g-C3N4 nanosheets, were utilized as coating materials for water hyacinth-synthesized cellulose sponges. This process led to the formation of hybrid materials known as g-C3N4 MCS (Microrods Cellulose Sponge) and g-C3N4 NCS (Nanosheets Cellulose Sponge). The efficiency and reaction rate of MB removal were then studied with various models such as First order reaction, Second order reaction, Pseudo first order reaction, Pseudo second order reaction and Elovich model. The results obtained from the research project indicated that the g-C3N4 NCS hybrid material exhibited a notably higher rate of organic degradation compared to the g-C3N4 MCS hybrid material. In conclusion, this research project successfully achieved the fabrication and characterization of a photocatalysts hybrid material using cellulose sponge from water hyacinth. The material demonstrated excellent performance as an absorbent and degradation agent for organic pollutants in water, highlighting its potential for practical applications in water treatment and environmental remediation.