One pot synthesis and characterization of Ag-ZnO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with improved photoactivity and antibacterial properties

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 482; pp. 477 - 484
• Main Authors: Adhikari, Surya Prasad, Pant, Hem Raj, Kim, Jun Hee, Kim, Han Joo, Park, Chan Hee, Kim, Cheol Sang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.10.2015
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Hydrothermal; Nanocomposite; Photocatalyst; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxide; Nanocomposite; Antibacterial; Hydrothermal; Photocatalyst
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2015.07.003

[Display omitted] •Facile one step preparation of Ag-ZnO/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst is presented.•Large g-C3N4 sheets act as an excellent support to stabilize the formation of ZnO and Ag nanoparticles.•Composite showed superior photodegredation of organic pollutant under UV light.•Composite showed good antibacterial activity even in absence of UV light. A multifunctional Ag-ZnO/g-C3N4 composite was hydrothermally synthesized using aqueous dispersion of g-C3N4 particles with Ag and ZnO precursors by heat treatment at 130°C for 3h. The prepared composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) to reveal the formation of composite metal, metal oxide, and carbon nitride. Well attached ZnO microflowers were formed on the surface of g-C3N4 sheets, when hydrothermal solution was treated without silver precursor. However, silver doped ZnO nanoflowers were appeared on g-C3N4 sheets, when the silver nitrate containing hydrothermal solution was treated. The photocatalytic activity and antibacterial properties of as-prepared composite were studied by photocatalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) solution and destruction of Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria, respectively. It was found that Ag-ZnO/g-C3N4 composite exhibited better photocatalytic and antibacterial activity compared to g-C3N4 and ZnO/g-C3N4 particles. A sample of Ag-ZnO/g-C3N4 also exhibited favorable stability and durability. The nanocomposite obtained from this simple and convenient facile one-pot synthesis may become a prospective photocatalyst.