Hollow TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for photodegradation of volatile organic carbons under visible-light. (7th February 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Al Mamari, Said; Al Marzouqi, Faisal; Al Nabhani, Abdulrahman; Kim, Younghun; Selvaraj, Rengaraj
• Is Part Of: Toxicological and environmental chemistry. Volume 104:Number 2(2022)
• Page Start: 211
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2022-02-07
• Subjects: TiO2/g-C3N4 -- composites -- MTBE -- toluene -- degradation -- visible light; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 571.95
• DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2022.2134387
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-2248

Abstract

Abstract: Hollow TiO2 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposite was prepared using solvothermal method. Two-dimensional g-C3 N4 nanosheets were coupled with TiO2 hollow spheres at different ratios to investigate the charge-carrier interactions with the aim of enhancing the photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposite. This coupling was systematically examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The prepared nanocomposite was used for the photodegradation of the volatile organic carbons methyl tetra-butyl ether and toluene present in aqueous solution. Elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction revealed a high-purity sample, while the UV diffuse reflectance spectroscopy demonstrated the presence of a well-defined anatase crystal phase for the TiO2 hollow sphere; and the photoluminescence measurements showed an enhancement in visible-light absorbance, with a good reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate. The performance of the nanocomposites in the photocatalytic degradation of toluene under irradiation with visible-light was evaluated. The 20/80% TiO2 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposite materials showed highest photocatalytic activity for toluene and methyl tetra-butyl ether, achieving a degradation of more than 90%; this is attributed to the interaction between the two surfaces in the TiO2 /g-C3 N4 nanocomposite, resulting in a higher performance than the individual components.