Synergistic design of In2O3/g-C3N4 hybrid photocatalyst for enhanced visible light degradation of emerging pollutants

Abstract

In this study, a novel In₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ hybrid photocatalyst was developed via an ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal route to address the challenge of removing organic dyes and heavy metals from water. The hybrid displayed a reduced band gap energy (2.47 eV) and significantly enhanced BET surface area (114 m²/g), facilitating superior light absorption and catalytic activity. Under natural sunlight, the hybrid achieved 92% degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and 72% reduction of Cr (VI) within 90 min, substantially outperforming pristine In₂O₃. Kinetic studies confirmed the improved reaction rate with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.0943 min⁻¹ for RhB degradation. The enhanced performance is attributed to efficient charge separation and suppressed recombination, as supported by photoluminescence and photocurrent measurements. Notably, the hybrid retained over 90% of its activity after five cycles, demonstrating excellent reusability and stability. These findings underscore the potential of the In₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ hybrid as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for practical environmental remediation.