What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to synthesize a graphitic carbon nitride-zinc oxide composite and study its photoluminescence properties.

February 22, 2026Next Materials2 citationsOpen Access

Low-temperature hydrothermal synthesis of graphitic carbon nitrate-zinc oxide hybrid and study of its photo-luminescence property

PKP. KumarTeerthanker Mahaveer University DBD. BanerjeeTeerthanker Mahaveer University ASAditya SharmaTeerthanker Mahaveer University

Key Points

The aim is to synthesize a graphitic carbon nitride-zinc oxide composite and study its photoluminescence properties.
Synthesis of GCN-ZnO hybrid via wet chemical and hydrothermal methods
Characterization using XRD, FESEM, HRTEM, XPS, EDX, FTIR
Analysis of photoluminescence spectra at 350 nm excitation
The average crystallite size of the hybrid was about 16 nm as per Scherrer's equation
The composite shows distinct blue-cyan emissions around 455 and 491 nm
Pure GCN exhibits a single emission at 422 nm, indicating low defect levels
Effective interfacial defect compensation was confirmed by reduced yellow-orange emissions

Abstract

The present work represents the synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and Zinc Oxide (ZnO)-based nanocomposite via a simple wet chemical as well as hydrothermal method and modification of its photoluminescence (PL) properties with respect to the pure constituents of the hybrids. The as prepared pure and hybrid samples were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of ZnO whereas GCN matrix mostly remained amorphous in nature. When Scherrer’s equation was used the average crystallite grain size of the hybrid came out to be around 16 nm. Electron microscopic images showed the GCN incorporation into the rod-like structure of ZnO with profound interfacial contacts between the two materials. Combined XPS and EDX analysis was carried out to investigate the elemental composition and chemical states of the sample, whereas FTIR shows presence C-N bond that are typical characteristics of GCN sample. While the PL spectra of the samples were studied with excitation wavelength of 350 nm, it revealed strong interfacial interaction and charge transfer between the two components. The GCN-ZnO nanocomposite exhibits distinct PL characteristics with dominant blue-cyan emission around ∼455 and ∼491 nm and a suppressed ZnO defect-related yellow-orange emission at ∼622 nm. The pure GCN displays a single sharp emission at 422 nm, indicating its low-defect nature, while the reduced defect contribution in the composite confirms effective interfacial defect compensation. The CIE chromaticity coordinates further place the emission in the blue-cyan region. These finding thus established the potential of the hybrid system to be used as the component in opto-electronic devices.

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