Synthesis of p-n GCN/CuBi2O4 heterostructures for enhanced visible light photocatalysis
Damian C. Onwudiwe, Olalekan C. Olatunde, Violet M. Nkwe, Opeyemi A. Oyewo, Anthony M. Muliwa, Hela Ferjani, Tarek A. Yousef
Abstract
The fabrication of heterojunction structures is a well-established strategy for achieving efficient separation of charge carriers and their migration in photocatalysis in order to enhance photocatalytic activity. In this study, a series of g-C3N4/CuBi2O4 heterostructure photocatalysts were prepared through a solvothermal process. The obtained products were characterized using different techniques and their photocatalytic properties were evaluated for the degradation of methyl orange under the irradiation of visible light. Compared with the pristine g-C3N4 and CuBi2O4, the g-C3N4/CuBi2O4 heterojunction composites showed improved activity in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene orange, due to the formation of p-n junction, which resulted in improved charge carrier migration and separation. Furthermore, photogenerated O2∙- and h+ account for the effective degradation of methyl orange (MO) by the photocatalyst. The g-C3N4/CuBi2O4 heterojunction is therefore a promising photocatalyst for the effective degradation of MO.