Efficient RhB degradation using MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites under visible light irradiation

• Published in: Optical materials Vol. 124; p. 111965
• Main Authors: Xie, Di, Zhang, Shuo, Wu, Tianyu, He, Mei, Cai, Yiyan, Zhao, Panpan, Cheng, Fangchao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2022
• Subjects: Degradation; MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites; Photocatalytic activity; Rhodamine B; Visible light; Degradation; Photocatalytic activity; Visible light; Rhodamine B; MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites
• ISSN: 0925-3467; 1873-1252
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111965

The MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 composites with promising photocatalytic activity were successfully prepared in this study. The structure and morphology of the as-prepared composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), and the photocatalytic activity was evaluated through the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB). It was found that the composites with 30 wt% MnFe2O4 possessed 2.64 times higher photocatalytic activity than that of pure g-C3N4, and the degradation rate of 30 mg/L RhB solution could reach 97.2% in 90 min under 1 sun irradiation. The promising photocatalytic activity of the composites was mainly attributed to excellent adsorption performance and light absorption capacity of the sample. Simultaneously, the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs was delayed due to the formation of heterojunction between MnFe2O4 and g-C3N4, and MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 showed almost no decrease in photocatalytic activity after recycling for five times. [Display omitted] •MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 led to 97.2% degradation of 30 mg/L RhB solution in 90 min.•Catalytic activity of MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 had almost no decrease after five recycles.•MnFe2O4/g-C3N4 exhibited high photoactivity due to heterojunction formation.