A photocatalyst prepared by NiCo2O4/CNQD-modified carbon fabric heterojunction enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange

Abstract

Herein, we report a novel photocatalyst cobalt nickel tetroxide (NiCo₂O₄)/g-C₃N₄ quantum dot (CNQD) heterojunctions on a carbon cloth (CC). NiCo₂O₄ nanosheets and NiCo₂O₄/CNQDs were grown on the carbon cloth (CC) by electrodeposition and calcination. The addition of CNQDs greatly improved the photocatalytic activity under visible light. Under the irradiation of visible light, NiCo₂O₄/CNQDs/CC and NiCo₂O₄/CC photocatalyst could remove 93% and 59% methyl orange (MO) in 60 minutes, respectively. After 5 cycles, the photocatalyst activity did not decrease distinctly. High-performance CC photocatalysts have broad application prospects in wastewater treatment, and material design strategies can be extended to other major fields, such as water purification, self-purification, antifouling and sterilization.