Hierarchical structures of 2D g-C3N4 sheet supported 3D star-shaped flower CuO nanohybrids for improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation and visible light induced photodegradation of antibiotics

Abstract

The interfacial interaction between different materials is favorable to the photoexcited charge separation, and it can also contribute complete performance to their individual benefits and create for the shortcomings to attain a complementary influence. But, it is still challenging to modify the preferred structure and heterojunction interface of catalyst materials using a facile and effective method. In this report, 2D g-C3N4 sheets supported 3D star-shaped flower like CuO nanohybrid p-n type heterojunction catalysts were prepared using simple facile synthesis technique and examined their catalytic activity and photoelectrochemical properties. The photocatalytic efficacies of TC using pure g-C3N4, CuO and CuO/g-C3N4 were 47.4%, 75.2% and 94.7% within the 30 min of visible light irradiation. The enhanced photodegradation performance of nanohybrids catalyst is due to the formation of heterojunction, subsequent in the photoexcited charge carrier’s active separation the improved ability of visible light absorption and development of p-n heterojunction. Moreover, PEC water oxidation properties were examined and CuO/g-C3N4 nanohybrid electrodes displays improved PEC properties than the pure CuO and g-C3N4. Furthermore, g-C3N4, CuO and CuO/g-C3N4 photoelectrode displays photocurrent density 0.85, 1.60 and 2.30 mA/cm−2, respectively. Therefore, 3D/2D nanohybrids with robust ability of visible light absorption could offer a novel method to create effective facilitating the growth of photoelectrodes for the PEC water oxidation and photodegradation for fast and effective antibiotic removal from the environment.