Synthesis and characterization of CeO₂/Bi₂O₃/gC₃N₄ ternary Z‐scheme nanocomposite

Abstract

An effective and facile phytogenic method was used to prepare CeO2/Bi2O3 and CeO2/Bi2O3/gC3N4 composites using Eichhornia crassipes phytoextract. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, UV‐DRS, PL, SEM‐EDAX, XPS, zeta potential, and TGA. These catalysts showed diverse photocatalytic and optical properties due to the alteration in the bandgap. The synthesized composites exhibited good photocatalytic activity by degrading Malachite green (MG) dye. The increase in the photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the p‐n heterojunction of the catalysts with efficient charge separation and strong oxidative ability. The modified photocatalysts showed excellent catalytic activity and reusability under visible light. The superior efficiency and its applications in environmental remediation make these catalysts a potential candidate for photocatalysis.

Precious-Metal-Free Solvothermally Synthesized CeO2 Nanosphere-Graphitic Carbon Nitride Sheet Composites for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…For pure gC 3 N 4 , the peak at 804 cm –1 is due to the characteristic stretching vibration of the s-triazine ring system, whereas the bands in the range of 1200–1700 cm –1 are attributed to the stretching vibrations of the CN (1627 and 1547 cm –1 ) and C–N (1406, 1320, and 1236 cm –1 ) heterocycles. , The broadband within 3000–3300 cm –1 is ascribed to the N–H group associated with the pyrrolic N group of gC 3 N 4 . For CeO 2 , the large band at 400–700 cm –1 is associated with the Ce–O stretching vibration, whereas the broad peak at 3419 cm –1 corresponds to the stretching vibration of O–H associated with adsorbed water molecules. , The FTIR spectra of CeO 2 -gC 3 N 4 composites resemble the pure gC 3 N 4 , which implies that the chemical structure of gC 3 N 4 is retained after forming the composite. On the other hand, the relative intensity of the absorption band between 400 and 700 cm –1 gradually increases on increasing the amount of CeO 2 in the composite, revealing the successful synthesis of the CeO 2 -gC 3 N 4 composites, which is in agreement with the XRD result.…”

“…30 For CeO 2 , the large band at 400−700 cm −1 is associated with the Ce−O stretching vibration, whereas the broad peak at 3419 cm −1 corresponds to the stretching vibration of O−H associated with adsorbed water molecules. 31,32 The FTIR spectra of CeO 2 -gC 3 N 4 composites resemble the pure gC 3 N 4 , which implies that the chemical structure of gC 3 N 4 is retained after forming the composite. On the other hand, the relative intensity of the absorption band between 400 and 700 cm −1 gradually increases on increasing the amount of CeO 2 in the composite, revealing the successful synthesis of the CeO 2 -gC 3 N 4 composites, which is in agreement with the XRD result.…”

Recent advances in ternary Z-scheme photocatalysis on graphitic carbon nitride based photocatalysts

“…This structure was not only proposed in g-C 3 N 4 /ZnFe 2 O 4 /Bi 2 S 3 , but the same researchers Sarkar et al also offered the same Z-scheme (Devi K R et al, 2020), and g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /TiO 2 (Jaleel et al, 2021). In those ternary Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4 -based heterojunctions, g-C 3 N 4 serves as a photocatalyst for reduction.…”

“…In this dual Z-scheme photocatalytic configuration, CuFe 2 O 4 serves in the role of an electron shuttle, causing the piling up of e − in g-C 3 N 4 and h + in MoS 2 , which are later engaged throughout the photocatalytic process. And the same dual Z-scheme structure also been proposed such as g-C 3 N 4 /ZnS/ZnO ( Dong et al, 2018 ), g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /Ag 3 PO 4 ( Tian et al, 2019 ), g-C 3 N 4 /Zn 2 SnO 4 N/ZnO ( Wang M. et al, 2019 ), g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /ZnO ( Madhushree et al, 2022 ), g-C 3 N 4 /CeO 2 /Bi 2 O 3 ( Devi K R et al, 2020 ), and g-C 3 N 4 /MoS 2 /TiO 2 ( Jaleel et al, 2021 ). In those ternary Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4 -based heterojunctions, g-C 3 N 4 serves as a photocatalyst for reduction.…”

Investigation of heterojunction between α-Fe2O3/V2O5 and g-C3N4 ternary nanocomposites for upgraded photo-degradation performance of mixed pollutants: Efficient dual Z-scheme mechanism

“…Owing to its narrow-bandgap (~2.0 eV), good stability, outstanding visible-light absorbing ability, promising magnetism, low-cost, non-toxicity and simply recovered by external magnetic field over the resultant photocatalyst from the treated solution [12,13]. Various Z-scheme heterojunctions utilizing g-C 3 N 4 such as g-C 3 N 4 /LaFeO 3 [9], Ag 3 PO 4 /p-g-C 3 N 4 [14,15], MoO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 [16] , g-C 3 N 4 /MnO 2 [7], g-C 3 N 4 /CoFe 2 O 4 [17], CaTiO 3 /g-C 3 N 4 /AgBr [8], g-C 3 N 4 /rGO/Bi 2 WO 6 [18], CeO 2 /g-C 3 N 4 /Bi 2 O 3 [19] and g-C 3 N 4 /Ag/MoS 2 composites have been prepared with several enhanced photocatalytic performance. The synergistic performance of the SCs involved in a heterostructure that involving with two SCs is extremely valuable for outstanding photo-reduction and photooxidation of various organic impurities [8,19].…”