Fabrication of ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites for enhanced visible light driven photocatalytic activity

ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite photocatalysts were prepared using a simple and cost-effective pyrolysis method. The structural, optical, surface morphological and photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposites were analyzed and compared with those of g-C3N4. X-ray diffraction results revealed that all the ZnO/g-C3N4 samples have a hexagonal wurtzite phase of ZnO. Spectroscopic results obtained via FT-IR technique were consistent with the layered structure of sp2 hybridized bonding features of C and N in g-C3N4, besides Zn-O stretching vibrations. Photoluminescence results revealed that ZnO hybridization with g-C3N4 showed efficient separation and delayed recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. TEM analysis clearly displayed that ZnO nanoparticles are anchored on g-C3N4 and showed the interface between the ZnO and g-C3N4. The ZnO/g-C3N4 nanocomposites exhibited enhanced visible light photocatalytic degradation against methylene blue dye when compared to g-C3N4. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for the observed enhanced photocatalytic activity.