MoO3-WS2-g-C3N4 nanocomposite as an efficient photocatalyst for different dye degradation under visible light irradiation

Abstract

In this study, a novel MoO₃-WS₂-g-C₃N₄ (MWg) nanocomposite photocatalyst is synthesized via a combination of heat treatment and hydrothermal method. The synthesis involved the preparation of WS₂-g-C₃N₄ binary heterojunction followed by incorporation of MoO₃ through hydrothermal treatment, resulting in the formation of a hybrid nanocomposite photocatalyst with enhanced activity under visible light irradiation. The different characterization techniques including X-ray powder diffraction through Rietveld refinement, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and UV–vis absorption spectra are employed to assess the crystallographic information, morphological growth, chemical compositions and optical bandgaps of the samples. The MWg photocatalyst exhibits improved performance in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye compared to methylene blue (MB ~ 26%) and methylene orange (MO ~ 31%), achieving ~ 95% degradation within 45 min. The stability and reusability of the MWg sample are confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern analysis before and after photocatalytic reactions, demonstrating its efficacy over multiple cycles. The MWg photocatalyst shows a promising potential for wastewater treatment under visible light irradiation, making it a valuable candidate for environmental remediation applications.