Improved photocatalytic disinfection of dual oxidation state (dos)-Ni/g–C3N4 under indoor daylight

Abstract

This work reports the antibacterial application of the dual oxidation state of nickel on g-C3N4 (dos-Nickel/g-C3N4) nanocomposite. The nanocomposite is prepared through simple wet impregnation assisted pyrolysis technique, and is characterized by standard techniques. Different geometries of nickel (spherical, and hexagonal disc) are decorated on the graphitic-carbon nitride surface examined through HR-TEM imagery. Photoluminescence of the synthesized nanocomposite can achieve better charge separation due to the quenching effect. The photocatalytic disinfection of dos-Ni/g-C3N4 nanocomposite is evaluated using E. coli as a model pathogen under normal indoor daylight. Selective dosage of nickel in the nanocomposite showed 100 % photocatalytic destruction efficiency of E. coli compared to g–C3N4, under shorter irradiation time. The photocatalytic disinfection mechanism is interrogated with various scavengers, and it is determined that superoxide (·O2–), and hole (h+) are the crucial radicals participating in the disinfection destructive mechanism. Taken together, this research presents the fabrication of dos-Ni/g-C3N4 nanocomposite, and its potential application to bioenvironmental remediation under normal indoor daylight conditions.