Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac in Aqueous Solution Using Fabricated ZnO/g-C3N4 by Facile Calcination Technique

Mahmudul Hassan Suhag; Aklima Khatun; Ikki Tateishi; Mai Furukawa; Hideyuki Katsumata; Satoshi Kaneco

doi:10.1021/acsomega.4c05679

Visible Light Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Diclofenac in Aqueous Solution Using Fabricated ZnO/g-C₃N₄ by Facile Calcination Technique

ACS Omega. 2024 Oct 30;9(45):45090-45103. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.4c05679. eCollection 2024 Nov 12.

Authors

Mahmudul Hassan Suhag^{1

2}, Aklima Khatun¹, Ikki Tateishi³, Mai Furukawa¹, Hideyuki Katsumata¹, Satoshi Kaneco¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.
² Department of Chemistry, University of Barishal, Barishal 8254, Bangladesh.
³ Environmental Preservation Center, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan.

Abstract

The ability of the heterojunction between two distinct semiconductors with appropriately matched band gaps to improve the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs has been demonstrated to enhance photocatalytic activity. Hence, ZnO/g-C₃N₄ composites have been fabricated by the facile deposition and calcination of ZnO and g-C₃N₄. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirm the formation of the composite. Scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy morphological analysis reveal that ZnO was homogeneously spread over the g-C₃N₄ surface. UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy analysis shows the slightly enhanced visible light absorption ability of the composite. Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis prove the higher charge separation of the composite during the irradiation of light. The composite shows admirable photocatalytic efficiency in the visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation of an aqueous diclofenac (DFC) solution. The superoxide anion radical (•O₂ ^-) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) act as reactive species during the degradation reaction. Probable reaction mechanisms have been proposed.