Z-scheme mechanism for methylene blue degradation over Fe_(2)O_(3)/g-C_(3)N_(4) nanocomposite prepared via one-pot exfoliation and magnetization of g-C_(3)N_(4)

摘要

The low surface area,high recombination rate of photogenerated charge carriers,narrow visible range activity,and difficulty in the separation from cleaned solutions limit the wide application of g-C_(3)N_(4) as a photocatalyst.Herein,we have succeeded in developing a one-pot strategy to overcome the above-mentioned difficulties of g-C_(3)N_(4).The broadening of the visible-light response range and inducing magnetic nature to g-C_(3)N_(4) was succeeded by preparing a nanocomposite with Fe_(2)O_(3) via a facile solvothermal method.The preparation method additionally imparted layer exfoliation of g-C_(3)N_(4) as evident from the XRD patterns and TEM images.The strong interaction between the components is revealed from the XPS analysis.The broadened visible-light absorbance of Fe_(2)O_(3)/g-C_(3)N_(4) with a Z-scheme photocatalytic degradation mechanism is well evident from the UV-Vis DRS analysis and PL measurement of the composite with terephthalic acid.The active species of photocatalysis were further investigated using scavenging studies in methylene blue degradation that revealed hydroxyl radicals and holes as the major contributors to the activity of Fe_(2)O_(3)/g-C_(3)N_(4).