Highly active novel CeTi2O6/g-C3N5 photocatalyst with extended spectral response towards removal of endocrine disruptor 2, 4-dichlorophenol in aqueous medium

Heterogeneous photocatalysis process is emerging technology for the removal of toxic pollutants, but the photocatalytic responses of the widely studied materials like TiO2 and ZnO are still not good enough under the visible light and NIR region. Herein, we have prepared a highly proficient novel visible light active heterojunction photocatalyst using low bandgap semiconductor carbon nitride (g-C3N5) and cerium titanate (CeTi2O6). The CeTi2O6/g-C3N5 heterojunction with hefty surface area and fabulous visible-light response was achieved by a simple wet chemical synthesis route. The structural and morphological features of the CeTi2O6/g-C3N5 heterojunctions were premeditated by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), elemental analysis (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies respectively. The CeTi2O6/g-C3N5 heterojunction exhibited outstanding photocatalytic response under the visible light towards the degradation of endocrine rupture material 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) than its single components. Radicals trapping experiments confirmed that the superoxide radicals, as well as hydroxide radicals, played the most prominent role in the removal of 2, 4 DCP. This study will offer new insight into the development of novel low bandgap g-C3N5 based stable photocatalyst materials with tunable bandgap for the degradation of hazardous pollutants.