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Design of a New ZnCo2O4 Nanoparticles/Nitrogen-Rich g-C3N4 Sheet with Improved Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light

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Abstract

This study used an NH4Cl-induced low temperatures second-calcination approach to create a nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet that was then used to support heterometallic spinel ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles. The as-prepared p–n heterojunction ZnCo2O4/nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet was used as visible light-induced photocatalysts for the photodegradation of p-Nitrophenol. The photocatalysts were analyzed using a variety of methods, including XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, TEM, PL, BET, and UV–Vis DRS. The combination of the ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles and the nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet produces a large number of active sites that increase the absorption of visible light and further improve the photocatalytic activity. The ZnCo2O4/nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet that was produced showed more photocatalytic activity under UV–Visible light than ZnCo2O4/g-C3N4, whereas the usage of nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet considerably increases the reaction to visible light and accelerates carrier transfer. This study could offer a fresh method for creating artificial photocatalytic devices with excellent charge transfer efficiency.

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Acknowledgements

The Chemistry Department of Al-Qadisiyah University is thanked by the authors for its assistance in terms of both technical and instrumental matters.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Education, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al Diwaniyah, 58001, Iraq

    Abbas Al-Nayili & Shaimaa A. Haimd

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  1. Abbas Al-Nayili
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AA: formal analysis, investigation, methodology, software, conceptualization, writing—review and editing, supervision, project administration, data curation. SAH: photocatalytic experiments, formal analysis, methodology.

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Correspondence to Abbas Al-Nayili.

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Al-Nayili, A., Haimd, S.A. Design of a New ZnCo2O4 Nanoparticles/Nitrogen-Rich g-C3N4 Sheet with Improved Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light. J Clust Sci 35, 341–358 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10876-023-02487-8

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