Facile synthesis of MnTiO3/Ag/gC3N4 nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic and synthesis of ammonia
Thinley Tenzin, Sneha Yadav, Jijoe Samuel Prabagar, Anusha Hosakote, K.M. Anil Kumar, Harikaranahalli Puttaiah Shivaraju
Abstract
The study focuses on the facile synthesis of MnTiO3/Ag/gC3N4 (manganese titanate /silver/ graphitic carbon nitride) via sol–gel techniques, further involving calcination. The catalyst was prompted for photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic tetracycline under simulated sunlight. Additionally, the physical and optical property of the composite was studied through different characterization methods like XRD, FESEM, FTIR, and PL. The optical study revealed that the material possessed a bandgap value of 2.5 eV with a fair adsorption in both UV and visible light spectra. The as-synthesized composite MnTiO3/Ag/gC3N4 showcased high photocatalytic activity with 61 % degradation of tetracycline within 120 min, and production of 0.74 ppm (41 μmol) of ammonia on average per hour of exposure to LED light-irradiation.