journal article·2021-01

Visible light active g-C3N4 sheets/CdS heterojunction photocatalyst for decolourisation of acid blue (AB-25)

M. P. Sithole, P. J. Mafa, L.A. de Kock, E. Viljoen, A. T. Kuvarega

Journal of Nanoparticle Research· Volume 23· Issue 1
Publisher page

Abstract

Chalcogenide-based semiconductors have attracted research interest due to their potential applications in electronics, energy storage devices, solar cells, and water treatment. In this study, g-C3N4 sheets/CdS (CNs/CdS) heterojunction nanocomposites were synthesized using the hydrothermal synthesis method. The CNs/CdS nanocomposites were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and UV-visible DRS techniques. The FESEM analysis confirmed the formation of CdS wild-berry like structure and successful attachment of CdS to the surface of g-C3N4 nanosheets. The PL results indicated reduced rate of electron-hole pair recombination for the 10% CNs/CdS. Upon application of photocatalytic decolourisation of AB-25 with 10% CNs/CdS, there was 99.3% dye removal efficiency achieved after 180 min. The CNs/CdS catalyst was observed to be stable after 4 repeated cycles, and this could be a pivotal character for real wastewater treatment application by this catalyst.
Source: openaire · Quality: candidate unverified · Source record ↗

Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis · Nanocluster Synthesis and Applications

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (57)

Show source-provided references
1. Adeyemo AA, Adeoye IO, Bello OS (2012) Metal organic frameworks as adsorbents for dye adsorption: overview, prospects and future challenges. Toxicol Environ Chem 94:1846–1863. https://doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2012.74402310.1080/02772248.2012.744023 ↗
2. R. Ananthashankar, Treatment of textile effluent containing reactive red 120 dye using advanced oxidation, 2012
3. Baughman GL, Weber EJ (1994) Transformation of dyes and related compounds in anoxic sediment: kinetics and products. Environ Sci Technol 28:267–276. https://doi.org/10.1021/es00051a01310.1021/es00051a013 ↗
4. Bremner DH, Molina R, Martínez F, Melero JA, Segura Y (2009) Degradation of phenolic aqueous solutions by high frequency sono-Fenton systems (US-Fe2O3/SBA-15-H2O2). Appl Catal B Environ 90:380–388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2009.03.02810.1016/j.apcatb.2009.03.028 ↗
5. Cao SW, Yuan YP, Fang J, Shahjamali MM, Boey FYC, Barber J, Joachim Loo SC, Xue C (2013) In-situ growth of CdS quantum dots on g-C3N4 nanosheets for highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation. Int J Hydrog Energy 38:1258–1266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.10.11610.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.10.116 ↗
6. Caruso F, Shi X, Caruso RA, Susha A (2001) Hollow titania spheres from layered precursor deposition on sacrificial colloidal core particles. Adv Mater 13:740–744. https://doi.org/10.1002/1521-4095(200105)13:10<740::AID-ADMA740>3.0.CO;2-610.1002/1521-4095(200105)13:10<740::AID-ADMA740>3.0.CO;2-6 ↗
7. Cote LJ, Kim F, Huang J (2009) Langmuir-Blodgett assembly of graphite oxide single layers. J Am Chem Soc 131:1043–1049. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja806262m10.1021/ja806262m ↗
8. Cui Y (2015) In-situ synthesis of C3N4/CdS composites with enhanced photocatalytic properties. Cuihua Xuebao/Chinese J Catal 36:372–379. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1872-2067(14)60237-010.1016/S1872-2067(14)60237-0 ↗
9. Deka S, Falqui A, Pellegrino T, Morello G, Lupo MG, Lanzani G, Spinella C, Manna L, Cingolani R, Quarta A, De Giorgi M, Giannini C, Boninelli S (2009) CdSe/CdS/ZnS double shell nanorods with high photoluminescence efficiency and their exploitation as biolabeling probes. J Am Chem Soc 131:2948–2958. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja808369e10.1021/ja808369e ↗
10. El-Hadi AM, Alamri HR (2018) The new generation from biomembrane with green technologies for wastewater treatment. Polymers (Basel) 10:1174. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym1010117410.3390/polym10101174 ↗
11. Fischer A, Carlsson JM, Schlögl R, Antonietti M, Goettmann F, Thomas A, Müller J-O (2008) Graphitic carbon nitride materials: variation of structure and morphology and their use as metal-free catalysts. J Mater Chem 18:4893. https://doi.org/10.1039/b800274f10.1039/b800274f ↗
12. Fu J, Chang B, Tian Y, Xi F, Dong X (2013) Novel C3N4-CdS composite photocatalysts with organic-inorganic heterojunctions: in situ synthesis, exceptional activity, high stability and photocatalytic mechanism. J Mater Chem A 1:3083–3090. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2ta00672c10.1039/c2ta00672c ↗
13. Ganesh RS, Sharma SK, Durgadevi E, Navaneethan M, Binitha HS, Ponnusamy S, Muthamizhchelvan C, Hayakawa Y, Kim DY (2017) Surfactant free synthesis of CdS nanospheres, microstructural analysis, chemical bonding, optical properties and photocatalytic activities. Superlattice Microst 104:247–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2017.02.02910.1016/j.spmi.2017.02.029 ↗
14. Ghodbane H, Hamdaoui O (2010) Decolorization of antraquinonic dye, C.I. acid blue 25, in aqueous solution by direct UV irradiation, UV/H2O2 and UV/Fe(II) processes. Chem Eng J 160:226–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.03.04910.1016/j.cej.2010.03.049 ↗
15. Han ZX, Zhu Z, Wu DD, Wu J, Liu YR (2014) Adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics of acid blue 25 and methylene blue dye solutions on natural sepiolite. Synth React Inorganic, Met Nano-Metal Chem 44:140–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/15533174.2013.77075510.1080/15533174.2013.770755 ↗
16. Han N, Xu Q, Beyene G, Zhang Q (2020) Enhanced photocatalytic activity over g-C3N4/(BiO)2(OH)xCl2−x Z-scheme heterojunction. Appl Surf Sci 521:146464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.14646410.1016/j.apsusc.2020.146464 ↗
17. Jiang F, Yan T, Chen H, Sun A, Xu C, Wang X (2014) A g-C3N4 -CdS composite catalyst with high visible-light-driven catalytic activity and photostability for methylene blue degradation. Appl Surf Sci 295:164–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2014.01.02210.1016/j.apsusc.2014.01.022 ↗
18. Kojima Y, Ohfuji H (2018) Reexamination of solvothermal synthesis of layered carbon nitride. J Mater 2018:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/657645710.1155/2018/6576457 ↗
19. Kriselle L, Paragas B, Dien Dang V, Shanker Sahu R, Garcia-Segura S, de Luna MDG, Pimentel JAI, Doong R-A (2020) Enhanced visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of acetaminophen over CeO2/I, K-codoped C3N4 heterojunction with tunable properties in simulated water matrix. Sep Purif Technol 117567:117567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.11756710.1016/j.seppur.2020.117567 ↗
20. Kumar A (2017) A review on the factors affecting the photocatalytic degradation of hazardous materials. Mater Sci Eng Int J 1:1–10. https://doi.org/10.15406/mseij.2017.01.0001810.15406/mseij.2017.01.00018 ↗
21. Levchenko TI, Kübel C, Wang D, Khalili Najafabadi B, Huang Y, Corrigan JF (2015) Controlled solvothermal routes to hierarchical 3D superparticles of nanoscopic CdS. Chem Mater 27:3666–3682. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.5b0058610.1021/acs.chemmater.5b00586 ↗
22. Li Q, Guo B, Yu J, Ran J, Zhang B, Yan H, Gong JR (2011a) Highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic hydrogen production of CdS-cluster-decorated graphene nanosheets. J Am Chem Soc 133:10878–10884. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja202545410.1021/ja2025454 ↗
23. Li Y, Bao J, Han M, Dai Z, Wang H (2011b) A simple assay to amplify the electrochemical signal by the aptamer based biosensor modified with CdS hollow nanospheres. Biosens Bioelectron 26:3531–3535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2011.01.03910.1016/j.bios.2011.01.039 ↗
24. Li G, Wang B, Zhang J, Wang R, Liu H (2019) Rational construction of a direct Z-scheme g-C3N4 /CdS photocatalyst with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity and degradation of erythromycin and tetracycline. Appl Surf Sci 478:1056–1064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.02.03510.1016/j.apsusc.2019.02.035 ↗
25. Lin G, Zheng J, Xu R (2008) Template-free synthesis of uniform CdS hollow nanospheres and their photocatalytic activities. J Phys Chem C 112:7363–7370. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp800696910.1021/jp8006969 ↗
26. Litter MI (1999) Heterogeneous photocatalysis: transition metal ions in photocatalytic systems. Appl Catal B Environ 23:89–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(99)00069-710.1016/S0926-3373(99)00069-7 ↗
27. Liu G, Li X, Zhao J, Hidaka H, Serpone N (2000) Photooxidation pathway of sulforhodamine-B. Dependence on the adsorption mode on TiO2 exposed to visible light radiation. Environ Sci Technol 34:3982–3990. https://doi.org/10.1021/es001064c10.1021/es001064c ↗
28. Liu QY, Qi YL, Zheng YF, Song XC (2017) Synthesis and enhanced photocatalytic activity of g-C3N4 hybridized CdS nanoparticles. Bull Mater Sci 40:1329–1333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-017-1513-y10.1007/s12034-017-1513-y ↗
29. Lü J, Lin JX, Zhao XL, Cao R (2012) Photochromic hybrid materials of cucurbituril and polyoxometalates as photocatalysts under visible light. Chem Commun 48:669–671. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1cc16268c10.1039/c1cc16268c ↗
30. Mafa PJ, Ntsendwana B, Mamba BB, Kuvarega AT (2019a) Visible light driven ZnMoO4/BiFeWO6/rGO Z-scheme photocatalyst for the degradation of Anthraquinonic dye. J Phys Chem C 123:20605–20616. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.9b0500810.1021/acs.jpcc.9b05008 ↗
31. Mafa PJ, Kuvarega AT, Mamba BB, Ntsendwana B (2019b) Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole on g-C3N4/BiOI/EG p-n heterojunction photoanode under visible light irradiation. Appl Surf Sci 483:506–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.03.28110.1016/j.apsusc.2019.03.281 ↗
32. Mafa P, Mamba B, Kuvarega A (2020a) Construction of hierarchical BiPW12O40/BiOI p–n heterojunction with enhanced visible light activity for degradation of endocrine disrupting Bisphenol A. Sep Purif Technol 253:117349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2020.11734910.1016/j.seppur.2020.117349 ↗
33. Mafa PJ, Mamba BB, Kuvarega AT (2020b) Photoelectrocatalytic evaluation of EG-CeO2 photoanode on degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 208:110416. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2020.11041610.1016/j.solmat.2020.110416 ↗
34. Malefane ME, Ntsendwana B, Mafa PJ, Mabuba N, Feleni U, Kuvarega AT (2019) In-situ synthesis of tetraphenylporphyrin/tungsten (VI) oxide/reduced graphene oxide (TPP/WO3/RGO) nanocomposite for visible light photocatalytic degradation of acid blue 25. ChemistrySelect. 4:8379–8389. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.20190158910.1002/slct.201901589 ↗
35. Mercy A, Samuel Selvaraj R, Milton Boaz B, Anandhi A, Kanagadurai R (2013) Synthesis, structural and optical characterisation of cadmium sulphide nanoparticles. Indian J Pure Appl Phys 51:448–452
36. Modwi A, Ghanem MA, Al-Mayouf AM, Houas A (2018) Lowering energy band gap and enhancing photocatalytic properties of Cu/ZnO composite decorated by transition metals. J Mol Struct 1173:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molstruc.2018.06.08210.1016/j.molstruc.2018.06.082 ↗
37. Oliveros AN, Pimentel JAI, de Luna MDG, Garcia-Segura S, Abarca RRM, Doong RA (2021) Visible-light photocatalytic diclofenac removal by tunable vanadium pentoxide/boron-doped graphitic carbon nitride composite. Chem Eng J 403:126213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.12621310.1016/j.cej.2020.126213 ↗
38. Pal K, Yang X, Mohan MLNM, Schirhagl R, Wang G (2016) Switchable, self-assembled CdS nanomaterials embedded in liquid crystal cell for high performance static memory device. Mater Lett 169:37–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2016.01.06410.1016/j.matlet.2016.01.064 ↗
39. Pawar RC, Khare V, Lee CS (2014) Hybrid photocatalysts using graphitic carbon nitride/cadmium sulfide/reduced graphene oxide (g-C3N4/CdS/RGO) for superior photodegradation of organic pollutants under UV and visible light. Dalton Trans 43:12514–12527. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4dt01278j10.1039/c4dt01278j ↗
40. Pietra F, Van Dijk-Moes RJA, Ke X, Bals S, Van Tendeloo G, Donega CDM, Vanmaekelbergh D (2013) Synthesis of highly luminescent silica-coated CdSe/CdS nanorods. Chem Mater 25:3427–3434. https://doi.org/10.1021/cm401169t10.1021/cm401169t ↗
41. Rengaraj S, Ferancova A, Jee SH, Venkataraj S, Kim Y, Labuda J, Sillanpää M (2010) Physical and electrochemical characterization of CdS hollow microspheres prepared by a novel template free solution phase method. Electrochim Acta 56:501–509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2010.09.01910.1016/j.electacta.2010.09.019 ↗
42. Senker J, Schwinghammer K, Lotsch BV, Ziegler C, Mesch MB, Duppel V (2014) Crystalline carbon nitride nanosheets for improved visible-light hydrogen evolution. J Am Chem Soc 136:1730–1733. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja411321s10.1021/ja411321s ↗
43. Tang Q, Zhou C, Yuan X, Jing Q, Mu Y, Du A (2016) Facile synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheets/ZnO nanocomposites with enhanced photocatalytic activity in reduction of aqueous chromium(VI) under visible light. Nanomaterials. 6:173. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano609017310.3390/nano6090173 ↗
44. Thompson TL, Yates JT (2006) Surface science studies of the photoactivation of TiO2 - new photochemical processes. Chem Rev 106:4428–4453. https://doi.org/10.1021/cr050172k10.1021/cr050172k ↗
45. Tong J, Zhang L, Li F, Wang K, Han L, Cao S (2015) Rapid and high-yield production of g-C3N4 nanosheets via chemical exfoliation for photocatalytic H2 evolution. RSC Adv 5:88149–88153. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ra16988g10.1039/c5ra16988g ↗
46. Vadivel S, Maruthamani D, Paul B, Dhar SS, Selvam K (2016) Facile synthesis of novel CaFe2O4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites for degradation of methylene blue under visible-light irradiation. J Colloid Interface Sci 480:126–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcis.2016.07.01210.1016/j.jcis.2016.07.012 ↗
47. Wang X, Blechert S, Antonietti M (2012) Polymeric graphitic carbon nitride for heterogeneous photocatalysis. ACS Catal 2:1596–1606. https://doi.org/10.1021/cs300240x10.1021/cs300240x ↗
48. Wang CC, Li JR, Lv XL, Zhang YQ, Guo G (2014) Photocatalytic organic pollutants degradation in metal-organic frameworks. Energy Environ Sci 7:2831–2867. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ee01299b10.1039/c4ee01299b ↗
49. Wang M, Wu Z, Dai L (2015) Graphitic carbon nitrides supported by nitrogen-doped graphene as efficient metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction. J Electroanal Chem 753:16–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelechem.2015.05.01210.1016/j.jelechem.2015.05.012 ↗
50. Wang D, Xu Z, Luo Q, Li X, An J, Yin R, Bao C (2016) Preparation and visible-light photocatalytic performances of g-C3N4 surface hybridized with a small amount of CdS nanoparticles. J Mater Sci 51:893–902. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-015-9417-y10.1007/s10853-015-9417-y ↗
51. Wu W, Liu G, Xie Q, Liang S, Zheng H, Yuan R, Su W, Wu L (2012) A simple and highly efficient route for the preparation of p-phenylenediamine by reducing 4-nitroaniline over commercial CdS visible light-driven photocatalyst in water. Green Chem 14:1705–1709. https://doi.org/10.1039/c2gc35231a10.1039/c2gc35231a ↗
52. Xie Y, Zhang X, Pan B, Xie X, Zhang J, Wang H (2012) Enhanced photoresponsive ultrathin graphitic-phase C3N4 nanosheets for bioimaging. J Am Chem Soc 135:18–21. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja308249k10.1021/ja308249k ↗
53. Xu J, Zhang L, Shi R, Zhu Y (2013) Chemical exfoliation of graphitic carbon nitride for efficient heterogeneous photocatalysis. J Mater Chem A 1:14766–14772. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ta13188b10.1039/c3ta13188b ↗
54. Yao WT, Yu SH, Liu SJ, Chen JP, Liu XM, Li FQ (2006) Architectural control syntheses of CdS and CdSe nanoflowers, branched nanowires, and nanotrees via a solvothermal approach in a mixed solution and their photocatalytic property. J Phys Chem B 110:11704–11710. https://doi.org/10.1021/jp060164n10.1021/jp060164n ↗
55. Zhang X, Xie X, Wang H, Zhang J, Pan B, Xie Y (2013) Enhanced photoresponsive ultrathin graphitic-phase C3N4 nanosheets for bioimaging. J Am Chem Soc 135:18–21. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja308249k10.1021/ja308249k ↗
56. Zhou Z, Wang J, Yu J, Shen Y, Li Y, Liu A, Liu S, Zhang Y (2015) Dissolution and liquid crystals phase of 2D polymeric carbon nitride. J Am Chem Soc 137:2179–2182. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja512179x10.1021/ja512179x ↗
57. Zou LR, Huang GF, Li DF, Liu JH, Pan AL, Huang WQ (2016) A facile and rapid route for synthesis of g-C3N4 nanosheets with high adsorption capacity and photocatalytic activity. RSC Adv 6:86688–86694. https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ra20514c10.1039/c6ra20514c ↗