Fabrication of Cr-ZnFe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/S-g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Heterojunction Enriched Charge Separation for Sunlight Responsive Photocatalytic Performance and Antibacterial Study
Ping Zhang,
Tehreem Munawar,
Raya Soltane,
Mohsin Javed,
Guocong Liu,
Shahid Iqbal,
Muhammad Azam Qamar,
Ayed A. Dera,
Hamad Alrbyawi,
M. Alfakeer,
Sameh Rabea,
Eslam B. Elkaeed
Affiliations
Ping Zhang
School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516007, China
Tehreem Munawar
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Raya Soltane
Department of Basic Sciences, Adham University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
Mohsin Javed
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Guocong Liu
School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516007, China
Shahid Iqbal
School of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Huizhou University, Huizhou 516007, China
Muhammad Azam Qamar
Department of Chemistry, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan
Ayed A. Dera
Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
Hamad Alrbyawi
Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology Department, College of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Medina 42353, Saudi Arabia
M. Alfakeer
Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
Sameh Rabea
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
Eslam B. Elkaeed
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh 13713, Saudi Arabia
There has been a lot of interest in the manufacture of stable, high-efficiency photocatalysts. In this study, initially Cr doped ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were made via surfactant-assisted hydrothermal technique. Then Cr-ZnFe2O4 NPs were modified by incorporating S-g-C3N4 to enhance their photocatalytic efficiency. The morphological, structural, and bonding aspects were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, and SEM techniques. The photocatalytic efficiency of the functional Cr-ZnFe2O4/S-g-C3N4 (ZFG) heterostructure photocatalysts was examined against MB under sunlight. The produced ZFG-50 composite has the best photocatalytic performance, which is 2.4 and 3.5 times better than that of ZnFe2O4 and S-g-C3N4, respectively. Experiments revealed that the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the ZFG nanocomposite was caused by a more effective transfer and separation of photo-induced charges. The ZFG photocatalyst can use sunlight for treating polluted water, and the proposed modification of ZnFe2O4 using Cr and S-g-C3N4 is efficient, affordable, and environmentally benign. Under visible light, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were employed to ZFG-50 NCs’ antimicrobial activity. These ZFG-50 NCs also exhibit excellent antibacterial potential.
