Rational design of a novel NbVO5/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunctions double improvised visible-light absorption and charge transfer for efficient photocatalytic degradation of RhB

Abstract

In this research work, we propose an environmentally friendly route for the fabrication of Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst NbVO5/g-C3N4 via hydrothermal method followed by ultrasonication. The as-synthesized material was analysed for crystal structure, elemental composition, morphology, optical properties, electrochemical study, and textural properties. From the photocatalytic degradation studies, it conforms that nanocomposite with optimized g-C3N4 that is NbVO5/ 10wt% g-C3N4 shows fabulous light harvesting ability, faster charge transfer, efficient spatial separation of photo-induced e−-h+ pair. Therefore, it exhibits ease photocatalytic towards degradation of Rhodamine B which achieved efficiency about 95.6 % in 60 min. Meanwhile, the trapping experiment conform that ●OH radical play's vital role in the degradation process which was also confirmed using terephthalic acid test. The fabricated material exhibits no significant loss even after five cycles. Finally, from the trapping experiment it confirms that it follows Z-Scheme charge transfer mechanism. A novel semiconductor NbVO5 anchored on the surface of g-C3N4 nanocomposite as photocatalysts towards environmental pollutants. This study introduces a straight forward and efficient method for combining g-C3N4 and NbVO5 nanoparticles to degraded dye pollution, a significant environmental issue.