Synthesis of Co2ZrO5/ g-C3N4 hybrids by hydrothermal and grinding methods: Characterization, study of photocatalytic behavior of Co2ZrO5-based composites under visible radiation

Abstract

Cobalt Zirconate/g-C3N4 hybrids (Co2ZrO5/g-C3N4) are synthesized with different mass ratios of g-C3N4 using hydrothermal and grinding methods. In the present research, the physicochemical properties of the synthesized composites are studied. The effects of changing surface area, pore diameter, and bandgap change are checked using BET and DRS. Characterization results for Co2ZrO5/g-C3N4 indicate that two different synthesis methods have various effects on the crystal structure and morphology leading to different photocatalytic performances. Furthermore, the synthesis of Co2ZrO5/MWCNTs and Co2ZrO5/MCM-41 is successfully performed. Co2ZrO5 NPs do not degrade rhodamine B. Also, they have a poor performance at high concentration of methylene blue under visible radiation. In this study, it has been demonstrated that the modification of MCM-41, g-C3N4, and MWCNTs surfaces by Co2ZrO5 NPs significantly improves their photocatalytic behavior, so that the degradation efficiencies are increased up to more than 99%, 90%, and 91% for Co2ZrO5/g-C3N4 hybrid, Co2ZrO5/MCM-41, and Co2ZrO5/MWCNTs, respectively. Consequently, the possible mechanism of the degradation process and the cause of the difference in the photocatalytic behavior of composites are discussed.