Improving photocatalytic efficiency through Cu substitution in TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction nanocomposites for wastewater remediation†
Abstract
Water pollution from organic contaminants is one of the biggest problems affecting the globe today. Conventional wastewater treatment systems have been used many times to solve world water pollution problems. This study focuses on the development of Cu doped TiO2/g-C3N4 heterojunction nanocomposites to improve the effectiveness of visible light harvesting, increase charge separation and transfer efficiency, and enhance photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic contaminants. The synthesized photocatalysts were extensively analysed using XRD, FTIR, BET, UV DRS, PL, SEM, TEM, and XPS methodologies. The superior photocatalyst (Cu-TiO2/g-C3N4) achieved the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency for BPA, MB, CR, and EBT under visible light irradiation. The rate constant for photocatalytic degradation of BPA over the Cu-TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst was 10.83, 8.86 and 3.48 fold greater than that of pure TiO2, pristine g-C3N4, and Cu-TiO2 photocatalysts, respectively. The rate constant decreased with the introduction of AO and TBA as they scavenge holes and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. The increased photocatalytic activity of the ternary photocatalyst is attributed to improved electron–hole pair separation and the creation of the type-II heterojunction structure. The photocatalytic parameters of BPA demonstrate that the Cu-TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst could be used in real-world wastewater treatment applications.