Integration of Mn-ZnFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> with S-g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> for Boosting Spatial Charge Generation and Separation as an Efficient Photocatalyst
Mohsin Javed,
Waleed Bin Khalid,
Shahid Iqbal,
Muhammad Azam Qamar,
Hamad Alrbyawi,
Nasser S. Awwad,
Hala A. Ibrahium,
Murefah Mana Al-Anazy,
Eslam B. Elkaeed,
Rami Adel Pashameah,
Eman Alzahrani,
Abd-ElAziem Farouk
Affiliations
Mohsin Javed
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Waleed Bin Khalid
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Shahid Iqbal
Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences (SNS), National University of Science and Technology (NUST), H-12, Islamabad 46000, Pakistan
Muhammad Azam Qamar
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Hamad Alrbyawi
Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology Department, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina 42353, Saudi Arabia
Nasser S. Awwad
Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Hala A. Ibrahium
Biology Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
Murefah Mana Al-Anazy
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Eslam B. Elkaeed
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
Rami Adel Pashameah
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Science, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24230, Saudi Arabia
Eman Alzahrani
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Abd-ElAziem Farouk
Department of Biotechnology College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
The disposal of dyes and organic matter into water bodies has become a significant source of pollution, posing health risks to humans worldwide. With rising water demands and dwindling supplies, these harmful compounds must be isolated from wastewater and kept out of the aquatic environment. In the research presented here, hydrothermal synthesis of manganese-doped zinc ferrites’ (Mn-ZnFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) and their nanocomposites (NCs) with sulfur-doped graphitic carbon nitride (Mn-ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4) are described. The samples’ morphological, structural, and bonding features were investigated using SEM, XRD, and FTIR techniques. A two-phase photocatalytic degradation study of (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 wt.%) Mn-doped ZnFe2O4 NPs and Mn-ZnFe2O4/(10, 30, 50, 60, and 70 wt.%) S-g-C3N4 NCs against MB was carried out to find the photocatalyst with maximum efficiency. The 9% Mn-ZnFe2O4 NPs and Mn-ZnFe2O4/50% S-g-C3N4 NCs exhibited the best photocatalyst efficiency in phase one and phased two, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of the Mn-ZnFe2O4/50% S-g-C3N4 NCs could be attributed to synergistic interactions at the Mn-ZnFe2O4/50% S-g-C3N4 NCs interface that resulted in a more effective transfer and separation of photo-induced charges. Therefore, it is efficient, affordable, and ecologically secure to modify ZnFe2O4 by doping with Mn and homogenizing with S-g-C3N4. As a result, our current research suggests that the synthetic ternary hybrid Mn-ZnFe2O4/50% S-g-C3N4 NCs may be an effective photocatalytic system for degrading organic pollutants from wastewater.
