Photodegradation of rhodamine B over g-C3N4-FeVO4 hetero-structured nanocomposite under solar light irradiation

Abstract

Herein, a cost-effective and nontoxic method was employed for the synthesis of g-C3N4-FeVO4 heterojunction nanocomposite photocatalyst. In this method, first g-C3N4 was synthesized from urea by chemical free thermal treatment method. Then FeVO4 nanomaterial was introduced on its surface by co-precipitation method. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized by XRD, Raman, FTIR, XPS, FESEM, and UV-DRS to determine the crystalline phase, functionality, bonding, morphology and band gap. The synthesized nanomaterial was used for the photocatalytic degradation of highly carcinogenic rhodamine B (Rh B) dye from aqueous solution using solar-light irradiation. The composite has remarkably higher photocatalytic behavior compared to pure g-C3N4 and FeVO4. Again, the degradation rate constant of Rh B for g-C3N4-FeVO4 is remarkably more compare to its parent materials. The pattern of the heterojunction formation between g-C3N4 and FeVO4 helps to separate the electron pair thereby increased the photoactivity properties of the composite. Scavenger studies were also performed in order to understand the mechanism of photodegradation. It was observed that along with the electron and hole pairs generated by light photons, hydroxide radicals play an important role in the degradation mechanism.

Keywords

• Nanocomposite
• Heterojunction
• Photodegradation
• Rhodamine B
• Graphitic carbon nitrite
• Sunlight