Synthesis and Structure of ZnO-Decorated Graphitic Carbon Nitride (g-C3N4) with Improved Photocatalytic Activity under Visible Light

The volume of dye production in the chemical industry is growing rapidly every year. Given global importance clean water resources, new wastewater treatment solutions are required. Utilizing photocatalysis by harvesting solar energy represents a facile and promising solution for removing dangerous pollutants. This study reports possibility increasing photocatalytic activity g-C3N4 creating nanocomposites with ZnO. Exfoliated g-C3N4/ZnO were synthesized heat urea subsequent ultrasonic exfoliation colloidal introducing zinc acetate. uniformity distribution ZnO nanoparticles confirmed method elemental mapping. obtained X-ray diffractograms show typical reflections It was found that introduction oxide into leads to an increase specific surface area values due developed surface. maximum value sample containing 7.5% 75.2 m2/g. g-C3N4/7.5% also demonstrated increased during decomposition methylene blue under influence visible light, which led twofold reaction rate compared initial g-C3N4.