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Morphology controlled fabrication of Fe2O3/GCN composites: a comparative study of hydrothermal and sonochemical synthesis methods for efficient sunlight driven photocatalysis for environmental remediation

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Abstract

A novel bifunctional type of Z-scheme heterojunction with excellent adsorption and photocatalytic properties has been synthesized successfully using hydrothermal and sonochemical methods. The Fe2O3/g-C3N4 (GCN) nanocomposite, which has a distinct nanorod-like shape, has been characterized using various analytical techniques such as XRD, XPS, FESEM-EDS, TEM, and UV-DRS. The results of sunlight-driven photodegradation experiments indicate that the hydrothermally synthesized Fe2O3/GCN nanocomposite achieved a 95% degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye within 45 min. The improved photocatalytic activity is believed to be due to the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction system, as supported by active species trapping experiments. Additionally, the composite photocatalyst demonstrated high degradation efficiency and stability over four cycles. Trapping studies c •OH and O2•− were the principal active species in the photocatalytic process created by sunlight irradiation of a Z-scheme Fe2O3/GCN photocatalyst.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. P. B. Buchade, principal of the MES Abasaheb Garware College in Pune, and Dr. Shobha A. Waghmode, head of the chemistry department, for their support and encouragement. HRP is grateful to the Maharashtra Education Society in Pune for providing research facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MES Abasaheb Garware College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

    Chetan Harak, Dilip Satpute, Nitin Kolhe, Anil Wade, Sagar Balgude & Hari Pawar

  2. MGV’S Arts, Science and Commerce College, Nashik, Maharashtra, India

    Vinayak Kadam

  3. Shardabai Pawar Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Pune, Maharashtra, India

    Shital Balgude

  4. Smt. R S College, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati, Maharashtra, India

    Satish Mardikar

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  1. Chetan Harak
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Contributions

CH: methodology, conceptualization. DS: validation, methodology. VK: resources, data curation, writing—review and editing. NK: investigation, validation. AW: formal analysis, data curation, validation. SB: visualization, formal analysis. SM: data curation, software, writing—review and editing. SB: writing—original draft, writing—review and editing. HP: supervision, resources.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Sagar Balgude or Hari Pawar.

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Statement of industrial relevance 

The successful synthesis of the Fe2O3/GCN nanocomposite with excellent adsorption and photocatalytic properties holds significant industrial relevance in the field of wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. The high degradation efficiency and stability of the composite photocatalyst, along with its ability to effectively degrade organic dyes under sunlight irradiation, make it a promising candidate for the development of advanced photocatalytic systems for industrial applications.

Statement of novelty

The novel bifunctional Z-scheme heterojunction synthesized through hydrothermal and sonochemical methods represents a significant advancement in the field of photocatalysis. The distinct nanorod-like shape of the Fe2O3/GCN nanocomposite, along with its characterization using various analytical techniques, highlights the meticulous research and comprehensive understanding of the material’s properties. The formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction system and the identification of •OH and O2•− as the principal active species through trapping studies demonstrate a novel approach to enhancing photocatalytic activity. The achievement of 95% degradation of methylene blue dye within a short duration further emphasizes the novelty and practical applicability of this nanocomposite.

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Harak, C., Satpute, D., Kadam, V. et al. Morphology controlled fabrication of Fe2O3/GCN composites: a comparative study of hydrothermal and sonochemical synthesis methods for efficient sunlight driven photocatalysis for environmental remediation. emergent mater. 6, 1797–1807 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42247-023-00566-0

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