g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalyst for methylene blue photodegradation under visible light

Abstract

In this research, the g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and was used as photocatalyst for dye degradation. Prior to that, the g-C3N4/TiO2 was characterized by different analytical techniques such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, and nitrogen gas adsorption. Main functional groups of g-C3N4/TiO2 composite are shown in the FTIR spectrum. The XRD pattern reveals that the presence of anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 as well as layer stacking of conjugated aromatic and in-planar repeating triazine unit of g-C3N4. The SEM analysis shows the presence of 2D-layered structured of g-C3N4 and agglomerated spherical TiO2 particles (0D). The 2D/0D g-C3N4/TiO2 nanocomposite shows higher photocatalytic activity than pure g-C3N4 and TiO2, whereby 100% of MB was degraded under visible light after 2 h. This is attributed to their high surface area which is 273.32 mg−1 and generation of more effective reactive oxygen species of ∙ OH and ∙ O2 to degrade MB.