NiO/C3N4: hybrid photocatalyst for the enhanced photodegradation of organic pollutant under visible light

Abstract

Photocatalysis utilizing semiconductor oxides is being researched widely for the degradation of dyes. This examination depicts the visible light actuated photocatalytic degradation of azo dye, methyl orange, utilizing NiO/C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst. The NiO/C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst with differing weight percentage were effectively synthesized by a simple calcinations method. The synthesized materials were described using x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscopy-Electron dispersive spectroscopy, High resolution transmission spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Atomic absorption spectroscopy and Photoluminescence. The photocatalytic action of NiO/C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst was assessed by the removal of methyl orange under visible light illumination (>400 nm). The loading of NiO on C3N4 was confirmed by AAS analysis. It is discovered that 4 wt% of NiO loaded C3N4 photocatalyst demonstrated maximum photocatalytic action and its comparing removal rate of methyl orange is accomplished 50% higher than that of bare g-C3N4 photocatalyst. Moreover, 78% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal was obtained with 4 wt% of NiO/C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst in 50 min.