Document Type : Full research article
Authors
1 Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, PO box 19395-4697, Tehran, Iran
2 1. Department of Chemistry, Payame Noor University, PO box 19395-3697, Tehran, Iran
3 2. Department of Agriculture, Minab Higher Education Center, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Abstract
Photocatalysis and sonocatalysis are considered promising techniques employed for the degradation of organic pollutants through solar light, visible or UV light irradiation. In this study, TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was successfully fabricated using solvothermal route and studied for its ability to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB), when exposed to UV light. The as-prepared nanocomposite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The solvothermal method did not modify the crystalline structure of the TiO2 and g-C3N4 but enhanced the surface area by interlayer delamination of g-C3N4 . The nanocomposite exhibited commendable photocatalytic performances with 99% degradation efficiency of RhB attained in 10 min. The enhanced photocatalytic activities were attributable to UV light-harvesting characteristics and the formation of an S-scheme heterojunction system between two catalysts which promotes interfacial charge separation efficiency and longer charge carrier lifespan. Furthermore, TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite showed high sonocatalytic activity for the degradation of RhB. TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited the best degradation efficiency of 99.5 % against RhB within 8 min under US light irradiation. Sonocatalytic degradation of organic dye using prepared nanocomposite could be described by the mechanisms of hot spots and sonoluminescence. Based on results, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB via TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite needs more time. The reusability of TiO2/g-C3N4 was also examined in order to assess the composite sustainability.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)