Novel g-C3N4/BiVO4 heterostructured nanohybrids for high efficiency photocatalytic degradation of toxic chemical pollutants. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reddy, Ch. Venkata; Nagar, Aashna; Shetti, Nagaraj P.; Reddy, I. Neelakanta; Basu, Soumen; Shim, Jaesool; Kakarla, Raghava Reddy
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 322(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: g-C3N4/BiVO4 nanohybrids -- Pollutants -- Photocatalysis -- Environmental remediation; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Novel heterostructured hybrid catalysts are essential for the efficient photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants from wastewater generated by the pharmaceutical and textile industries. In this study, novel g-C3 N4 /BiVO4 nanohybrid catalysts were prepared using a solvothermal technique, and examined their structural and optical properties using different characterizations. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the monoclinic crystal phase of BiVO4 . Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) images revealed that g-C3 N4 sheets anchored on the surface of BiVO4 nanospheres. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the oxidation states of g-C3 N4 /BiVO4 composite sample. UV–Vis DRS spectroscopy analysis revealed that the composite (2.08 eV) sample had a reduced bandgap compared to other samples. The photocatalytic properties of the prepared samples were tested in the presence of organic methylene blue (MB) and antibiotic tetracycline (TC) pollutants under visible light illumination. The hybrid composite catalyst exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation efficiency of MB (88%) and TC (89%) pollutants at elevated rate constants of 0.0128 and 0.01174 min −1, respectively. The improved catalytic performance of the composite catalyst is due to the heterojunctions between g-C3 N4 and BiVO4 that successfully reduced the rate of charge carrier recombination in the catalyst system. Scavenger experiments revealed that O2 ●— and h + radicals played a main role in the degradation of the chemical pollutants. The developed g-C3 N4 /BiVO4 heterostructured catalyst is a suitable candidate for removing contaminants from industrial wastewater because of its facile fabrication and exceptional photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A novel g-C3 N4 /BiVO4 nanohybrid catalyst was prepared using a solvothermal technique. Nanohybrid catalyst used for removal of organic and antibiotic pharmaceutical pollutants. Nanohybrid catalysts degraded MB and TC with ∼88% and ∼89% degradation efficacy. Prepared nanohybrid is a potential catalyst to remove toxic water pollutants in visible light.