Study of the photocatalytic properties of the BaMoO4/g-C3N4 Type II heterostructure obtained by microwave-assisted solvothermal method

Heterogeneous photocatalysis is a technology widely used in the removal of organic pollutants, highlighting the need to create new photocatalytic materials. In this work, BaMoO₄/g-C₃N₄ heterostructures were synthesized via a co-precipitation method followed by a microwave-assisted solvothermal process using 1.4-butanediol as the solvent. Co-precipitation times of 0, 1, and 4 h were investigated to determine the optimal synthesis duration. Structural, morphological, and spectroscopic characterization techniques were employed on the prepared materials. To evaluate the photocatalytic potential, degradation tests were conducted on methylene blue (MB) and crystal violet (CV) dyes under UV light irradiation. The heterostructures synthesized with longer co-precipitation times exhibited enhanced efficiency, achieving degradation rates of 95.17% for Crystal Violet and 95.16% for Methylene Blue. This performance is attributed to a reduced bandgap energy and an increased specific surface area. The photocatalytic efficiency and structural stability were maintained after four reuse cycles. Additionally, scavenger tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy confirmed that superoxide radicals, holes, and hydroxyl radicals are the main active species, indicating that the synthesized heterostructure follows a Type II photocatalytic mechanism.