TY - JOUR
T1 - Computationally guided synthesis of (2D/3D/2D) rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanostructure with improved charge separation and transportation efficiency for degradation of pharmaceutical molecules
AU - Shanavas, Shajahan
AU - Mohana Roopan, Selvaraj
AU - Priyadharsan, Arumugam
AU - Devipriya, Duraipandi
AU - Jayapandi, Selvam
AU - Acevedo, Roberto
AU - Anbarasan, Ponnusamy Munusamy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2019/10/15
Y1 - 2019/10/15
N2 - In this study, we designed and successfully prepared all solid state 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite by embedding 3D Fe2O3 nanoparticles on 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets to for 3D/2D Fe2O3/g-C3N4 followed by the addition of 2D rGO nanosheets via a simple hydrothermal technique with the support of response surface methodology for the first time. The formation of this unique 2D/3D/2D heterojunction leads to generate several nanochannels in their interfacial contact for high-speed photoinduced charge transfer. The considerable enhancement in photoinduced charge transportation and migration efficiency resulted in significant visible-light-driven degradation of emerging pharmaceutical condemnations. The 3D/2D Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was optimized by various concentrations of Fe2O3 in g-C3N4, followed by the optimization of rGO concentration in 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite to obtain maximum degradation efficiency. We observed that the 3% of rGO in 4% Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic ability, nearly 22 times and 16 times higher than pristine g-C3N4 nanosheets towards tetracycline and ciprofloxacin degradation, respectively. The synergistic effect between 2D/3D/2D g- rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites and the photocatalytic mechanism was well studied through various characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX-mapping, HR-TEM, UV–vis DRS, PL, XPS and EPR. In addition, the 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibits excellent recyclability and stability, establishing a promising application in environmental remediation. This research would provide a noteworthy platform for the extensive photocatalytic properties of 2D/3D/2D heterojunction nanocomposite system with enhanced charge migration and separation.
AB - In this study, we designed and successfully prepared all solid state 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite by embedding 3D Fe2O3 nanoparticles on 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets to for 3D/2D Fe2O3/g-C3N4 followed by the addition of 2D rGO nanosheets via a simple hydrothermal technique with the support of response surface methodology for the first time. The formation of this unique 2D/3D/2D heterojunction leads to generate several nanochannels in their interfacial contact for high-speed photoinduced charge transfer. The considerable enhancement in photoinduced charge transportation and migration efficiency resulted in significant visible-light-driven degradation of emerging pharmaceutical condemnations. The 3D/2D Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was optimized by various concentrations of Fe2O3 in g-C3N4, followed by the optimization of rGO concentration in 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite to obtain maximum degradation efficiency. We observed that the 3% of rGO in 4% Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibited superior photocatalytic ability, nearly 22 times and 16 times higher than pristine g-C3N4 nanosheets towards tetracycline and ciprofloxacin degradation, respectively. The synergistic effect between 2D/3D/2D g- rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites and the photocatalytic mechanism was well studied through various characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX-mapping, HR-TEM, UV–vis DRS, PL, XPS and EPR. In addition, the 2D/3D/2D rGO/Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposite exhibits excellent recyclability and stability, establishing a promising application in environmental remediation. This research would provide a noteworthy platform for the extensive photocatalytic properties of 2D/3D/2D heterojunction nanocomposite system with enhanced charge migration and separation.
KW - Degradation intermediates
KW - Electron migration
KW - Hydrothermal
KW - Pharmaceutical condemnations
KW - Response surface methodology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85066871886&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.117758
DO - 10.1016/j.apcatb.2019.117758
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85066871886
SN - 0926-3373
VL - 255
JO - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
JF - Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
M1 - 117758
ER -