Design of novel Z-scheme g-C 3 N 4 /TiO 2 /CuCo 2 O 4 heterojunctions for efficient visible light- driven photocatalyic degradation of Rhodamine B

Abstract One of the most important environmental challenges that needs to be resolved is the industrial discharge of synthetic dyes. Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and flower-like copper oxide (CuO)/copper cobaltite (CuCo₂O₄) nanocomposites were synthesized in order to synthesis an effective visible light driven photocatalyst that could degrade Rhodamin B (Rh.B) dye under simulated solar light irradiation. The SEM and TEM results verifies that the flower-like CuO/CuCo₂O₄ (CCO) structure and g-C₃N₄/TiO₂ (g-CN/TO) generated a smart hybrid structure with superior g-CN distribution. According to the photocatalytic studies, g- C₃N₄/TiO₂/CuO/CuCo₂O₄ (g-CN/TO/CCO) shows good photodegradation of Rh.B dye (99.9%) in minmal times (1 h) in CCO: g-CN/TO (2:1) ratio by Z-Scheme mechanism. The enhanced visible light absorption and effective electron-hole pair separation provided by the synergistic dispersion of CuO/CuCo₂O₄ and g-C₃N₄ can be attributed to the improved photocatalytic performances. These novel insights into g-CN/TO/CCO based photocatalysts are useful for treating industrial effluent.