Eco-friendly derived Cu-TiO2/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation and water remediation

Abstract

One strategy that shows promise for addressing both the energy crisis and global warming is the photocatalytic reduction of CO₂. Enhancing photocatalytic activity through inexpensive, high-performance co-catalysts is an effective strategy. In this study, green Cu nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) have been loaded onto a TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite, which acts as an excellent electron conductor. One method used to create Cu-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites was a sequential deposition method, where 5 % TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ was modified with various Cu concentrations (5, 15, 20, 25, and 30 mg), labeled as ACT, BCT, CCT, DCT, and ECT, respectively. UV–vis DRS, SEM, XPS, and XRD analyses were used to evaluate the photocatalysts. Among these, CCT (20 mg Cu-NPs) exhibited the maximum level of photocatalysis CO₂ reduction activity in sunlight, achieving 5.1 μmolg⁻¹h⁻¹ for CO and 1.2 μmolg⁻¹h⁻¹ for CH₄. The yield of CH₄ in the visible range was twice that in the UV range for CCT. The sequential deposition method effectively created a strong Cu-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ interface, facilitating the division of electron-hole pairs produced by photosynthesis. TiO₂ acted as an electron acceptor, enhancing the participation of electrons produced by photosynthesis in the CO₂ reduction process. Cu-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ proved to be a potent catalyst for the photocatalytic reduction of potassium dichromate (Cr(VI)) under visible light, achieving a high degradation rate of 92.15 %. This dual functionality highlights the versatility of Cu-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ materials for environmental remediation and sustainable energy applications. The fabrication of Cu-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ composites for catalytic CO₂ reduction will address existing challenges and hold promise for future research.