ZnO-Modified g-C₃N₄: A Potential Photocatalyst for Environmental Application

Abstract

Solar energy-driven practices using semiconducting materials is an ideal approach toward wastewater remediation. In order to attain a superior photocatalyst, a composite of g-C₃N₄ and ZnO (GCN-ZnO) has been prepared by one-step thermal polymerization of urea and zinc carbonate basic dihydrate [ZnNO₃]₂·[Zn(OH)₂]₃. The GCN-ZnO0.4 sample showed an evolved morphology, increased surface area (116 m² g^-1), better visible light absorption ability, and reduced band gap in comparison to GCN-pure. The GCN-ZnO0.4 sample also showed enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic activity performance, resulting in an increased reaction rate value up to 3 times that of GCN-pure, which was attributed to the phenomenon of better separation of photogenerated charge carriers resulting because of heterojunction development among interfaces of GCN-pure and ZnO. In addition, the GCN-ZnO0.4 sample showed a decent stability for four cyclic runs and established its potential use for abatement of organic wastewater pollutants in comparison to GCN-pure.