g-C3N4 Nanocomposites Research Articles

Comparative study of the photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4/MN4 (M = Mn, Fe, Co) for water splitting reaction: A theoretical study.

In this study, nanocomposites of g-C3N4/MN4 (where M is Mn, Fe and Co) have been designed using advanced density functional theory (DFT) calculations. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on the geometry, electronic, optical properties, work function, charge transfer interaction and adhesion energy of the g-C3N4/MN4 heterostructures and concluded that g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterojunctions exhibit higher photocatalytic performance than individual units. The better photocatalytic activity can be attributed mainly by two facts; (i) the visible light absorption of both g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 interfaces are higher compared to its isolated analogs and (ii) a significant enhancement of band gap energy in g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterostructures limited the electron-hole recombination significantly. The potential of the g-C3N4/MN4 heterojunctions as a photocatalyst for the water splitting reaction was assessed by examining its band alignment for water splitting reaction. Importantly, while the electronic and magnetic properties of MN4 systems were studied, this is the first example of inclusion of MN4 on graphene-based material (g-C3N4) for studying the photocatalytic activity. The state of the art DFT calculations emphasis that g-C3N4/FeN4 and g-C3N4/CoN4 heterojunctions are half metallic photocatalysts, which is limited till date.

Target detection and simultaneous degradation of furazolidone by molecularly imprinted CoWO4/g-C3N4

In this study, a "Two birds with one stone" strategy was employed to concurrently address the challenges of electrochemical detection and photocatalytic degradation of the environmentally hazardous furazolidone (FRZ). An innovative molecularly imprinted CoWO4/g-C3N4 (i.e. MIP-CoWO4/g-C3N4) nanomaterials was constructed through a combination of hydrothermal and electrochemical polymerization techniques. The resulting MIP-CoWO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites can be served as an exceptional sensing platform for FRZ detection, demonstrating low detection limit (2.61×10−13 mol L−1), considerable sensitivity (2.03 μA. nM−1. mm−2), excellent selectivity and decent stability. Meanwhile, the MIP-CoWO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites exhibited remarkable photocatalytic efficiency for FRZ degradation (79.87 %). In addition, the systematic investigation into the impact of operational reaction parameters on both the electrocatalytic and photocatalytic reactions was conducted, elucidating the plausible mechanisms for both detecting and degrading FRZ. This research provides firm foundation for the development of multifunctional nanomaterials, further advancing the "integration of diagnosis and treatment" in environmental management and control.

High-performance supercapacitor of ZnO-incorporated structurally modified g-C3N4 with circular mesoporous channels attained via a template-free approach

Abstract Here, the superior structural features of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) in combination with integrated mesoporous channels have been explored for its use as a supercapacitor electrode material. A facile template-free strategy is adopted for the preparation of ZnO-incorporated modified g-C3N4 nanocomposite, where material characterization via x-ray difraction, Fourier transfrom infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed the presence of structurally modified g-C3N4 having uniform circular mesoporous channels with well-dispersed ZnO with strong Zn–C and Zn–N interactions. The electrical double-layer capacitance together with the pseudocapacitance of the ZnO/g-C3N4 electrode material resulted in improved performance, leading to a specific capacitance of 146.3 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1; an increased capacitance is observed in 5000 repeated charge–discharge cycles. A symmetric coin cell supercapacitor fabricated from the material displayed an energy density of 38.8 mWh kg−1 at a power density of 4259 mW kg−1. Additionally, the long life of 6000 cycles (retaining 100% specific capacitance) exhibited by the coin cell supercapacitor further indicates the promising energy storage nature of the ZnO-incorporated modified g-C3N4 mesoporous nanoarchitecture. Real life application of the ZnO/g-C3N4-derived supercapacitor is illustrated by lighting up a green LED with a series connection of four coin cells.

Structural and morphological studies of g-C3N4-functionalized MWCNTs nanocomposite for sunlight-responsive photocatalytic activity

Photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants has been proven to be one of the greatest economical and efficient techniques to address environmental pollution problems. Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/g-C3N4 (GCN) nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by a hydrothermal process aided by ultrasound to produce active photocatalysts. The effective synthesis of GCN, MWCNTs, and MWCNTs/GCN NCs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns. The fabrication of GCN nanosheets (NSs), the nanotubular structure of MWCNTs, and a network of neuron-like structures for MWCNTs/GCN NCs were all revealed by structural and morphological characterization. The elemental mapping of NCs containing the suitable quantity of MWCNTs revealed a uniform distribution of the sample's component elements. When the optical properties of the fabricated nanomaterials were examined by employing UV–visible spectroscopy, the results revealed a blue shift (a shift of maximum absorption to the UV region), which suggests that the addition of MWCNTs increased the band-gap energy. The behaviour of e––h+ pair recombination was revealed by measuring the charge carrier movement and trapping efficiency using photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Crystal violet (CV) dye was photocatalytically degraded using prepared NCs in the presence of sunlight, and the synergistic effects of GCN and MWCNTs were examined. With a degradation efficiency of 99.32 %, MWCNTs/GCN NCs demonstrated the best sunlight-irradiated photocatalytic activity for CV degradation. The degradation of CV was discovered to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics. Throughout five consecutive studies, the NCs demonstrated the highest levels of catalytic efficiency and recyclability, with 5 % reduced degrading activities. The trapping tests showed that the primary reactive species involved in the breakdown of CV were the •O2– and •OH radicals.

Development of a MOF-5/g-C3N4 nanocomposite: an effective type 2 heterojunction photocatalyst for rhodamine B dye degradation.

The field of environmental and water remediation faces a significant challenge in removing organic dyes from wastewater, particularly Rhodamine B (RhB), a stubborn dye used in various industries. Traditional treatment methods struggle with its resistance to decomposition, posing risks to water quality, human health, and aquatic life. This study demonstrates a novel approach to enhance photocatalytic efficiency for RhB degradation by constructing a MOF-5/g-C3N4 composite through a facile mechanical grinding method, which is unprecedented. The composite addresses the limitations of g-C3N4, such as rapid recombination of electron-hole pairs, low electron transfer rates, and small surface area, by forming a heterojunction with MOF-5. The composite exhibits enhanced photocatalytic efficiency for the degradation of RhB under sunlight, with a degradation of 91.5% achieved within 90min. Optimization studies highlight the importance of pH and catalyst dosage in the degradation process. The reusability test shows consistent performance over five successive cycles, maintaining a degradation efficiency of over 90%. Total organic carbon (TOC) analyses confirm the mineralization of the dye solution to 82.05% after 90min of irradiation, demonstrating the environmental benignity of the composite. Trapping experiments suggest the involvement of superoxide radicals, electrons, and holes in the photocatalytic mechanism. This study introduces a promising strategy for addressing challenges in dye degradation through innovative composite materials.

Fabrication of mesoporous Sm-Nd2O3/Thymine doped gC3N4 nanocomposite for the adsorption and photodegradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light

The ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic was degraded using Sm-Nd2O3 decorated Thymine doped gC3N4 (Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4) nanocomposite under visible light irradiation. The oxygen-containing component like thymine doped in the gC3N4 significantly improves the active sites of the catalyst and its ability to absorb light, which highly influences the adsorption and photocatalytic activity. The chemical and morphological analysis of the nanocomposite were studied utilizing the XRD, FTIR, HRSEM, HRTEM, EDAX, UV-DRS, XPS, BET, and PL. The photocatalytic activity was investigated under several factors such as pH, initial concentration of CIP, catalyst dosage, inorganic anions, and real lake water sample, to optimize and enhance the photocatalytic efficiency of Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4 nanocomposite, as a result, the degradation efficiency achieved to 99.65 % within 120 min with the rate constant of 0.0472 min−1. The Z-scheme mechanism of the Sm-Nd2O3/T-gC3N4 photocatalyst was proposed based on the Mott-Schottky and trapping experiments. Further, the degradation pathway of CIP was postulated based on the intermediates, identified by the LC-MS analysis

Expression of Concern: Solar light driven enhanced photocatalytic treatment of azo dye contaminated water based on Co-doped ZnO/ g-C3N4 nanocomposite

Expression of Concern: Solar light driven enhanced photocatalytic treatment of azo dye contaminated water based on Co-doped ZnO/ g-C3N4 nanocomposite

BiVO4/sulfur-doped g-C3N4 nanocomposite as photocatalyst for degradation of ciprofloxacin under visible light irradiation

In recent years, the use of antibiotics has greatly increased, which has caused environmental pollution. We offer a photocatalyst based on BiVO4/sulfur-doped g-C3N4 nanocomposite, which was made by a one-step thermal condensation method from thiourea and bismuth vanadate to degradate ciprofloxacin (CIP). The BiVO4/sulfur-doped g-C3N4 photocatalyst was analyzed by certain techniques including XRD, FTIR, BET, FESEM, EDX, TEM, DRS, photoluminesence, and Mott-Schottky to determine various physicochemical properties. The photocatalytic degradation of CIP, as a model pollutant, under visible LED light irradiation was tested to investigate the catalytic performance of nanocomposite. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize operational parameters, including photocatalyst dosage (50–150 mg), CIP concentration (10–30 mg/L), initial pH of the solution (3–11), and irradiation time (12–120 min). The BiVO4/sulfur-doped g-C3N4 nanocomposite, with a narrow bandgap of 2.15 eV, exhibited exceptional photocatalytic performance in degrading CIP. The optimal conditions for CIP removal were photocatalyst dosage of 120.9 mg, CIP concentration of 10 mg/L, and initial solution pH of 3, resulting in 93.5 % removal efficiency after 105 min of irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation kinetics of CIP followed a pseudo-first-order model with a rate constant (K) of −0.0221 L/min, indicating rapid degradation process. The photocatalyst maintained excellent performance after 5 reuses, with only a 3 % reduction in efficiency. XRD analysis confirmed the structural stability of the nanocomposite after reuse.

An Eco-Friendly Approach for the Synthesis of Ni/NiO/g-C3N4 Nanocomposite Using Cleome Gynandra Leaf Extract for Biomedical and Photocatalytic Applications

The (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text]/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was green synthesized using Cleome gynandra via sol–gel method. The photocatalytic dye decomposition, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of the nanocomposite were studied and compared with those of (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text] and g-C3N4. The nanocomposite exhibited enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of 97% compared to (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text] (63%) and g-C3N4 (80%) due to the synergistic effect between both the composite partners. The nanocomposite, (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text]/g-C3N4 showed notable antioxidant activity in DPPH (IC[Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL with 87.06% of inhibition at 500[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL) and ABTS (IC[Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL with 88.40 % of inhibition at 500[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL) radical scavenging assays. The green synthesized nanocomposite also exhibited significant antidiabetic activity in [Formula: see text]-amylase and [Formula: see text]-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays with the IC[Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g/mL, respectively. The XRD and SEM analyses confirmed the nanocomposite formation of (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text]/g-C3N4. The results showed that the green synthesized (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text]/g-C3N4 has desirable dye degradation, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. This paper presents the results of the remarkable photocatalytic dye decomposition, antidiabetic and antioxidant properties of the nanocomposite (Ni/NiO)[Formula: see text]/g-C3N4 synthesized via an eco-friendly greeny way using Cleome gynandra leaf extract which may be the first report of this kind utilizing this plant.

Utilizing e-waste: Development of a room temperature ammonia sensing device featuring highly crystalline GdInO3 nanoballs on surface-active g-C3N4 Nanosheets

Advanced recycling methods are utilized to convert electronic waste into premium-grade products, highlighting its potential as a sustainable manufacturing resource. Motivated by the growing interest in 2-dimensional carbon structures and metal oxide nanocomposites, particularly in advancing gas sensor technology, this study embarks on an extensive investigation. The research meticulously examines the direct synthesis of a nanocomposite integrating graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and perovskite GdInO3, with a focus on its precise sensing capabilities towards ammonia (NH3). Through detailed characterization employing analytical and morphological techniques, the synthesized materials are elucidated. Notably, the nanoball-like morphology of GdInO3 is observed, stemming from the self-assembly of smaller nanoparticles into hierarchical structures, subsequently integrated into the g-C3N4 sheet. Evaluated chips of the e-waste circuit board (e-WCB) modified with the g-C3N4-GdInO3 nanocomposite exhibit an impressive response of 72 % towards 10-ppm ammonia, coupled with a response time of 63 seconds and a recovery time of 33 seconds at room temperature with the limit of detection (LOD) of 5.2-ppm. Furthermore, the sensor demonstrates outstanding sensitivity and selectivity towards NH3 compared to other interfering gases. The sensitivity of the composite material towards NH3 was high compared to the pristine materials, this would be because of its enhanced physical and chemical properties (higher active sites and microporosity), therefore the GdInO3-decorated g-C3N4 nanocomposite emerges as a promising candidate for the rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of NH3 under ambient conditions (30 °C).

Metal Doped-MoS2/g-C3N4 Nanocomposites for Antibiotics Degradation with Photo-Fenton Reaction Process: Defect Engineering, Synergistic Effects, and Degradation Mechanisms

Currently, the energy crisis and environmental pollutions due to the growth of industrialization and urbanization become gradually a prominent and serious issue. Due to these reasons, we aimed to design photoactive metal-doped MoS2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites photocatalysts for the degradation of antibiotics. The degradation of organic pollutants with photocatalysis is considered as green, ecofriendly, economical, and promising methods. Herein, ultrathin g-C3N4 was prepared with simple method and combined with metal-doped MoS2 (Mg-doped MoS2) with varying the amounts of dopants. The prepared photocatalyst materials were tested for the degradation of ciprofloxacin in the photo-Fenton reaction process. The optimum amount of metal-doped MoS2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites photocatalysts showed enhanced catalytic performance and degrades 72% of ciprofloxacin while 52 and 48 % of degradations were achieved with MoS2 and g-C3N4 catalysts, respectively. Here, the key significant problems of the individual components were solved via synergistic effects in the photocatalytic degradation system. The results also offer an opportunity to enhance the electronic structures of the crystalline materials. Moreover, the metal-doping will also create defects on the MoS2 and improves the charge transfer ability of the photocatalyst. The results proved that the metal-doped MoS2/g-C3N4 nanocomposites photocatalysts could be a promising photo-Fenton catalyst system in the environmental remediation.

Enhanced PMMA Denture Bases Using Functionalized MWCNT Fused g-C3N4 Nanocomposites

This study presents the development and analysis of a new metal-free nanocomposite that incorporates functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for reinforcing polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) denture bases. The f-MWCNTs were integrated with g-C3N4 nanoparticles, and their structural and morphological features were examined using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and Raman spectroscopy. A mechanical blending process was employed to synthesize the nanocomposite by mixing 2 wt% of the f-MWCNT/g-C3N4 with PMMA polymer powder, followed by heat curing to form the composite material. Specimens for mechanical testing were crafted to measure flexural strength, impact resistance, compressive performance, and hardness. The findings revealed that the f-MWCNT/g-C3N4-reinforced PMMA composites outperformed standard PMMA in mechanical robustness. Surface examination of the tested samples through SEM showed distinctive dimpling and roughness, indicating a toughened fracture surface in comparison to pure PMMA and g-C3N4 samples. The study concludes that this innovative f-MWCNT/g-C3N4 composite is a promising reinforcement for PMMA denture bases, enhancing both their mechanical and physical attributes.Keywords: PMMA, functionalization, MWCNTs, Graphitic Carbide Nitride, Mechanical Properties and Denture Base

Green synthesis of g-C3N4 decorated with SnO2 nanocomposites using a novel Ananas comosus crown extract for boosted performance of asymmetric supercapacitors

The recent development of green chemistry, when preparing nanoparticles using plants and their various parts has received a lot of attention in today's world. Metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have gained recognition for their recent advances in green synthesis. In this work, the green synthesis of a 2D g-C3N4 nanosheet decorated with SnO2 nanocomposite was prepared by Ananas comosus crown extract for electrochemical storage applications. The novel Ananas comosus crown extract acts as a reducing or capping agent for a green approach. The prepared g-C3N4/SnO2 nanocomposites were studied with structural, functional group, morphological, elemental composition, chemical state, and surface area analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). SnO2 and various concentrations of g-C3N4 (25, 50, 75 & 100 mg) nanocomposite were investigated for electrochemical performance. At a current density of 1 Ag−1, the green synthesized (SnO2/g-C3N4 (50 mg)) SCN-50 nanocomposite displays a high specific capacitance of 302.7 Fg−1, as well as the composite demonstrates excellent capacitance retention of 94 % after 10,000 loops. Moreover, the asymmetric supercapacitor device of SnO2/g-C3N4//Activated carbon performed good reversible and cyclic stability with high energy and power density. The green synthesis of SnO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite has promising electrode materials for future energy storage devices.

Z-scheme based photoactive ZnO:TiO2:CdO:g-C3N4 nanocomposites for advance oxidation process

Z-scheme-based hybrid [(ZnO0.40:0.60TiO2):CdO1.00]:g-C3N4] nanocomposites (NCs) were synthesized by sol-gel precipitation and thermal polycondensation methods. Microscopic FE-SEM images varied from a compact crystal-like structure to a mesoporous sheet-type structure. XRD patterns confirmed the polycrystallinity for all samples. Meanwhile, the g-C3N4 interacts extensively with Zn+2 and Cd+2. The optical bandgap increased from 2.12 eV to 2.25 eV with the addition of g-C3N4 concentration. Z-scheme [(ZnO0.40:0.60TiO2):CdO1.00]:[g-C3N4] NCs of the particular composition named ZTCG4 showed the highest photocatalytic activity and degraded the methylene blue (MB), methyl green (MG), and methyl orange (MO) to be 99.7 %, 99.8 %, and 99.9 %, respectively, under the illumination of the visible light. Mineralized factors: chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) achieved the maximum removal efficiencies of 89.4 % and 88.9 % for the sample g-C3N4. Prepared photocatalysts can be utilized to remove the organic pollutants from the drainage systems under visible light exposure.

Mesoporous Cu2O–CuO/O–g-C3N4 nanocomposite with enhanced peroxidase-like activity for the colorimetric H2O2 sensing

Mesoporous Cu2O–CuO/O–g-C3N4 nanocomposite with enhanced peroxidase-like activity for the colorimetric H2O2 sensing

Novel 2D layered g-C3N4 nanocomposite materials for sustainable wastewater treatment by catalytic degradation of toxic dye

The photocatalytic degradation technique is one of the suitable ways of dealing with environmental pollutant decontamination. This study demonstrates the ability of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) nanocomposites containing tellurium (Te) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) to photocatalytically destroy organic cationic methylene blue (MB) dye, which is primarily used in the textile industry. Using the alkali treatment approach, layered graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was created. Using MoS2 and Te, several g-C3N4 nanocomposites were created using ultrasonic calcination techniques. After the MoS2 and Te were immobilized individually, the composites underwent a methodical characterization process utilizing a variety of instruments, including XRD and SEM. Using a 2D layered nano-g-C3N4 substrate, the photo-catalytic degradation reaction of MB was observed, and a UV spectrophotometer was used to determine the absorbance of the MB dye. Using 0.2 % MoS2/g-C3N4 and 5 % Te/g-C3N4, the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the MB dye (10, 15, and 20 mg/L) solution was examined. In comparison to other produced nanocomposites, the 5 % Te/g-C3N4 composite was shown to have the highest photocatalytic activity in terms of dye degradation ability, and about 100 % of the MB dyes were degraded in less than 60 minutes. As the concentration of MB increased, the dye degradation efficiency of g-C3N4 nanocomposites steadily dropped, and the degradation rate of MB was around 1.5 mg/L.

Boosted photocatalytic performance of cobalt ferrite anchored g-C3N4 nanocomposite toward various emerging environmental hazardous pollutants degradation: insights into stability and Z-scheme mechanism.

In this study, a highly efficient CoFe2O4-anchored g-C3N4 nanocomposite with Z-scheme photocatalyst was developed by facile calcination and hydrothermal technique. To evaluate the crystalline structure, sample surface morphology, elemental compositions, and charge conductivity of the as-synthesized catalysts by various characterization techniques. The high interfacial contact of CoFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) with g-C3N4 nanosheets reduced the optical bandgap from 2.67 to 2.5eV, which improved the charge carrier separation and transfer. The photo-degradation of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B) aqueous pollutant suspension under visible-light influence was used to investigate the photocatalytic degradation activity of the efficient CoFe2O4/g-C3N4 composite catalyst. The heterostructured spinel CoFe2O4 anchored g-C3N4 photocatalysts (PCs) with Z-scheme show better photocatalytic degradation performance for both organic dyes. Meanwhile, the efficiency of aqueous MB and Rh B degradation in 120 and 100min under visible-light could be up to 91.1% and 73.7%, which is greater than pristine g-C3N4 and CoFe2O4 catalysts. The recycling stability test showed no significant changes in the photo-degradation activity after four repeated cycles. Thus, this work provides an efficient tactic for the construction of highly efficient magnetic PCs for the removal of hazardous pollutants in the aquatic environment.

Investigation of La-BiVO4/g-C3N4 photocatalytic system for efficient removal of hazardous water contaminants

The application of semiconductor photocatalysis powered by renewable energy sources for environmental remediation of emerging contaminants has gained significant research interest in recent years. Lanthanum-substituted bismuth vanadate (La-BiVO4)/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) heterojunctions were synthesized for the photocatalytic degradation of emerging water contaminants. Significantly, La³+ substitution serves as a model system for exploring the broader concept of cationic substitutions on BiVO4. By strategically replacing a portion of Bi(III) with various cations, we can potentially tailor the electronic structure of BiVO4 for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Photoelectrochemical analysis confirmed rapid charge separation and reduced resistance, leading to effective contaminant degradation. The La-BiVO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited exceptional photocatalytic performance under simulated solar light irradiation (Xe-350W, AM 1.5 G), achieving 87.66% photooxidation of roxarsone within 150 min, surpassing g-C3N4, BiVO4, LaVO4, La-BiVO4, BiVO4/g-C3N4, and LaVO4/g-C3N4 by factors of 1.94, 1.26, 2.25, 1.39, 1.13, and 2.51, respectively. Moreover, it demonstrated 99.61% degradation of Cr(VI) after 60 min, outperforming g-C3N4, BiVO4, LaVO4, La-BiVO4, BiVO4/g-C3N4, and LaVO4/g-C3N4 by factors of 1.11, 1.81, 1.62, 1.67, 1.20, and 1.13, respectively. These findings underscore the superior photocatalytic efficacy of the La-BiVO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite. The efficient photocatalytic activity of La-BiVO4/g-C3N4 type-II heterojunctions demonstrates its potential for real-world environmental remediation. This material offers a promising strategy for removing harmful water contaminants, thereby mitigating risks associated with water consumption.

Design and fabrication of graphitic carbon nitride incorporated zinc silicate hybrid nanocomposite for effective degradation of eriochrome black T dye as water pollutant under sunlight irradiations

This paper presents an approach to prepare zinc silicate (Zn2SiO4) and its nanocomposites with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) for enhanced photocatalytic performance. Zn2SiO4 was synthesized using a simple and cost-effective sonochemical method, followed by the fabrication of Zn2SiO4/g-C3N4 through an ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method. The characterization of Zn2SiO4 and its nanocomposites was carried out using various techniques such as XRD, FTIR, EDS, SEM, TEM, BET, and DRS. The main focus of this study was to investigate the photocatalytic efficiency of g-C3N4, Zn2SiO4, and different Zn2SiO4 nanocomposites for the degradation of eriochrome black T (EBT) and erythrosine (ER). It is worth noting that this is the first time Zn2SiO4 has been combined with carbon nitride, which resulted in excellent photocatalytic performance. The experimental results revealed that several factors influenced the efficiency of the photocatalytic process, including the content of Zn2SiO4 in the nanocomposite, catalyst loading, and initial concentration of EBT. Among all the tested compositions, Zn2SiO4/g-C3N4 with 10 % Zn2SiO4 exhibited the best performance. Specifically, when 70 mg of 10 % Zn2SiO4/g-C3N4 was used as a catalyst, it achieved a remarkable degradation efficiency of 75.5 % for 10 ppm EBT. This finding highlights the potential application of Zn2SiO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites as efficient photocatalysts for environmental remediation. The results of scavenger test indicated that superoxide radicals and positive holes played significant roles in driving the photodegradation reactions. Furthermore, a kinetics study was performed to determine the rate constant (k) associated with the photocatalytic process. It was observed that a higher rate constant (k = 0.011 min−1) corresponded to a higher efficiency of 75.5 %. This finding suggests that the Zn2SiO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites possess excellent photocatalytic activity and can effectively degrade organic pollutants.

Synergistic Enhancement of Water-Splitting Performance Using MOF-Derived Ceria-Modified g-C3N4 Nanocomposites: Synthesis, Performance Evaluation, and Stability Prediction with Machine Learning.

Diminishing the charge recombination rate by improving the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is essential for better water oxidation. In this concern, this research explores the competent approach to enhance the PEC performance of g-C3N4 nanosheets (NSs), creating their nanocomposites (NCs) with metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived porous CeO2 nanobars (NBs) along with ZnO nanorods (NRs) and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs). The synthesis involved preparing CeO2 NBs and g-C3N4 NSs through the calcination of respective precursors, while the sol-gel method is employed for ZnO NRs and TiO2 NPs. Following the subsequent analysis of the physicochemical properties of the materials, the binder-free brush-coating method is deployed to fabricate NC-based photoanodes, followed by an evaluation of the PEC performance through various electrochemical techniques. Remarkably, the binary g-C3N4/CeO2 NCs with 20 wt % CeO2 NBs (gC20 NCs) exhibited a significantly enhanced current density of 0.460 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, which is 2.3 times greater than that of bare g-C3N4 NSs (0.195 mA/cm2). Further improvements are observed with ternary gC20/TiO2 (gCT50) and gC20/ZnO (gCZ50) NCs, achieving current densities of 1.810 and 1.440 mA/cm2, respectively. These enhanced current densities are attributed to increased donor densities, reduced charge transfer resistances, and efficient charge transport within the NCs. In addition, higher surface areas with beneficial instinctive defects are perceived for gCT50 and gCZ50 NCs, as revealed by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller and electron spin resonance analysis. Finally, the stability of gCZ50 and gCT50 NC-based photoanodes is predicted and forecasted with the help of the recurrent neural network-based long short-term memory technique. Overall, this study demonstrates the efficacy of organic-inorganic hybrids for efficient photoanodes, facilitating advancements in water-splitting studies.