Novel approach towards ternary magnetic g-C3N4/ZnO-W/Snx nanocomposite: photodegradation of nicotine under visible light irradiation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nicotine, an exceedingly noxious alkaloid, has been reported as an emerging anthropogenic waste water contaminant for decades. The current study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of nicotine in aqueous medium. Novel g-C3N4/ZnO-W/Snx composites were fabricated by impregnation of g-C3N4 with ZnO-W and SnCl2.H2O. The XRD and FTIR data strappingly evidenced the proficient blending of g-C3N4, metal oxide and the metal used as dopant. SEM and EDS micrographs showed agglomerated morphology; layered structure with loopholes, which invetrate the elementalconfiguration of fabricated nanocomposites. Spectroscopic analysis shows red shift in the vicinity of 240–270 nanometre as a confirmation of increased Sn content. Optical analysis shows band gap tailoring (2.32–1.78 eV) with increased dopant metal content, which constrains the electron hole pair recombination. This results in the production of more ROS species in the reaction system, leading to significant increase in photoactive nicotine degradation from 24% g-C3N4/ZnO-W to 98% g-C3N4/ZnO-W/Sn(0.011). The rate constant R2 values 0.985, 0.988, 0.990, 0.992, 0.996 and 0.997 for the synthesised composites confirmed the pseudo-first-order kinetics and maximum photodegradation in acidic medium. Efficient outcomes of 98% degradation under visible light and striking recyclability results for the grown composite g-C3N4/ZnO-W/Sn (0.011) even after the fifth cycle was 93% evidenced that synthesised composite exhibits high reusability and mechanical stability. Inclusively, the present research provides an innovative approach for the fabrication of photo-catalysts in wastewater treatment.