Abstract
This study describes the preparation of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), hematite (α-Fe2O3), and their g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 heterostructure for the photocatalytic removal of methyl orange (MO) under visible light illumination. The facile hydrothermal approach was utilized for the preparation of the nanomaterials. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) were carried out to study the physiochemical and optoelectronic properties of all the synthesized photocatalysts. Based on the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV-visible diffuse reflectance (DRS) results, an energy level diagram vs. SHE was established. The acquired results indicated that the nanocomposite exhibited a type-II heterojunction and degraded the MO dye by 97%. The degradation ability of the nanocomposite was higher than that of pristine g-C3N4 (41%) and α-Fe2O3 (30%) photocatalysts under 300 min of light irradiation. The formation of a type-II heterostructure with desirable band alignment and band edge positions for efficient interfacial charge carrier separation along with a larger specific surface area was collectively responsible for the higher photocatalytic efficiency of the g-C3N4/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite. The mechanism of the nanocomposite was also studied through results obtained from UV-vis and XPS analyses. A reactive species trapping experiment confirmed the involvement of the superoxide radical anion (O2•−) as the key reactive oxygen species for MO removal. The degradation kinetics were also monitored, and the reaction was observed to be pseudo-first order. Moreover, the sustainability of the photocatalyst was also investigated.
Highlights
Results and DiscussionThe deconvoluted N 1s spectrum (Figure 4b) depicted four distinct peaks at 398.6, 399.9, 400.4, and 404.4 eV, which were ascribed to sp hybridized N in the triazine ring (C=N-C groups), tertiary N-atoms bonded to carbon (N-(C) groups), the amino group of N-H, and the charging effect in the heterocycles, respectively [38,39]
Introduction published maps and institutional affil synthetic dyes provide vibrant colors, they cause serious water pollution problems
Typical X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of g-C3 N4, α-Fe2 O3, and g-C3 N4 /α-Fe2 O3 are displayed in Molecules 2022, 27, x FOR PEER REVIEW
Summary
The deconvoluted N 1s spectrum (Figure 4b) depicted four distinct peaks at 398.6, 399.9, 400.4, and 404.4 eV, which were ascribed to sp hybridized N in the triazine ring (C=N-C groups), tertiary N-atoms bonded to carbon (N-(C) groups), the amino group of N-H, and the charging effect in the heterocycles, respectively [38,39]. Sun et al [42] prepared an α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite by using precursors, including ferric chloride and dicyandiamide Their results were antagonistic to the traditional trend: the surface area of pure g-C3N4 was reduced. The smaller pores indicate the nanoporous structure on the surface of g-C3 N4 nanosheets and other nanoparticles, and the larger pores
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