Synergistic effect of ZnO/Ag 2 O@g-C 3 N 4 based nanocomposites embedded in carrageenan matrix for dye degradation in water

• Published in: Heliyon Vol. 10; no. 11; p. e31109
• Main Authors: Mamba, Feziwe B, Mbuli, Bhekani S, Ramontja, James
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 15-06-2024
• Subjects: Photocatalysis; Visible light; Nanocomposite; Carrageenan; Nanomaterial; Graphitic carbon nitride
• ISSN: 2405-8440; 2405-8440

This research achieved success by synthesizing innovative nanocomposite composed of zinc oxide (ZnO), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C
N
) and silver oxide (Ag
O) nanomaterials incorporated into a carrageenan matrix, thus creating an environmentally friendly and stable support structure. The synthesis process involved hydrothermal and chemical precipitation methods to create photocatalytic g-C
N
, ZnO, and Ag
O nanocomposites. The success is evident through the characterization results, which unveiled distinctive peaks corresponding to Zn-O (590-404 cm
) and Ag-O (2072 cm
) stretching in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses, conclusively confirming the successful synthesis of g-C
N
, ZnO, Ag
O, and their respective nanocomposites. Further validation through a scanning electron microscope coupled with an energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM-EDX) and elemental mapping affirmed the presence of Zn, O, Ag, C, and N. Additionally, transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging unveiled the nanosheet morphology of g-C
N
, the nanorod structure of ZnO, and the spherical form of Ag
O nanomaterials. ZnO and Ag
O nanomaterials demonstrated a consistent 10-20 nm size range. To underscore their ability to harness visible light, the nanomaterials were excited at 380 nm, emitting visible light emission within the 400-450 nm range. The synthesized nanocomposites showcased outstanding adsorption and photocatalytic properties, achieving efficiency ranging from 80 % to 98 %, attributed to the synergistic interactions between the various components. These findings culminate in a confirmation of the research's success, validating the exceptional potential of these nanocomposites for various applications.