Graphatic-C3N4@MoO3 heterostructure synthesis via a facile green route and their visible light-driven photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B dye

A green approach was employed for the synthesis of heterostructures of g-C3N4@MoO3 and characterized by XRD, UV-vis, SEM and FTIR techniques to evaluate the structural, morphological, and optical features of the heterostructures. The XRD analysis revealed the high crystallinity and intensity of g-C3N4/MoO3 higher than the g-C3N4 and MoO3. The g-C3N4 shows a crumpled layered arrangement and a MoO3 rod-like structure. The refractive index (n), bandgap energy (Eg) and extinction coefficient (k) (optical properties) are determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. The g-C3N4/MoO3 optical properties like k (2.15), n (2.37), dielectric coefficient (0.43), electronegativity (0.739) and bandgap energy (2.75 eV) were enhanced significantly. In visible region, the gC3N4/MoO3 demonstrated excellent performance for the degradation of RhB dye. The mobility and detachment of electron-hole pairs in type-II heterojunction semiconductors are responsible for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity (PCA) in visible region, which can be utilized for the dyes remediation in effluents under natural sunlight irradiation.

Automated summary

A green approach was used to synthesize heterostructures of g-C3N4@MoO3 and their structural, morphological, and optical features were characterized by XRD, UV-vis, SEM, and FTIR techniques. The XRD analysis showed higher crystallinity and intensity of g-C3N4/MoO3 compared to g-C3N4 and MoO3. The g-C3N4 exhibited a crumpled layered arrangement while MoO3 had a rod-like structure. The optical properties of g-C3N4/MoO3, including refractive index, bandgap energy, and extinction coefficient, were significantly enhanced.