A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub>
Photocatalysis has shown high potential in dealing with the ever-broadening problem of wastewater treatment, escalated by the increasing level of recalcitrant chemicals often referred to as emerging contaminants. In this study, the effect of support material on the photocatalytic activity of copper...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/1/14 |
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| author | Olalekan C. Olatunde Damian C. Onwudiwe |
| author_facet | Olalekan C. Olatunde Damian C. Onwudiwe |
| author_sort | Olalekan C. Olatunde |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Photocatalysis has shown high potential in dealing with the ever-broadening problem of wastewater treatment, escalated by the increasing level of recalcitrant chemicals often referred to as emerging contaminants. In this study, the effect of support material on the photocatalytic activity of copper tin sulfide (Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles for the degradation of tetracycline as an emerging contaminant is presented. Graphene oxide, protonated graphitic carbon nitride, and a composite of graphitic carbon nitride and graphene oxide were explored as support materials for Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were incorporated with the different carbonaceous substrates to afford graphene-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (GO-CTS), protonated graphitic carbon nitride-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (PCN-CTS), and graphene oxide/protonated graphitic carbon nitride-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (GO/PCN-CTS). Physicochemical, structural, and optical properties of the prepared nanocomposites were characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis near infrared, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The compositing of the Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles on the support materials was confirmed by the characterization techniques, and the optical properties of the composites were found to be influenced by the nature of the support material. The incorporation of CTS into the support materials resulted in a reduction in band gap energy with evaluated band gaps of 1.65, 1.46, 1.43 eV, and 1.16 eV. The reduction in band gap energy suggests the potential of the composites for enhanced photocatalytic activity. From the photocatalytic study, the degradation efficiency of tetracycline by CTS, PCN-CTS, GO-CTS, and PC/GO-CTS was 74.1, 85.2, 90.9, and 96.5%, respectively. All the composites showed enhanced activity compared to pristine CTS, and the existence of a synergy between GO and PCN when both were employed as support materials was observed. Based on the charge carrier recombination characteristics and the band edge potential calculations from the composites, a possible mechanism of action of each composite was proposed. This study therefore confirms the possibility of modulating the mechanism of action and subsequently the efficiency of semiconductor materials by altering the nature of the support material. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:45:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c305be09b94a45a08d5cde14ed54942e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:45:33Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-c305be09b94a45a08d5cde14ed54942e2023-11-23T13:15:39ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442021-12-011211410.3390/catal12010014A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub>Olalekan C. Olatunde0Damian C. Onwudiwe1Material Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Mafikeng Campus, North-West University, Mmabatho 2735, South AfricaMaterial Science Innovation and Modelling (MaSIM) Research Focus Area, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Mafikeng Campus, North-West University, Mmabatho 2735, South AfricaPhotocatalysis has shown high potential in dealing with the ever-broadening problem of wastewater treatment, escalated by the increasing level of recalcitrant chemicals often referred to as emerging contaminants. In this study, the effect of support material on the photocatalytic activity of copper tin sulfide (Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub>) nanoparticles for the degradation of tetracycline as an emerging contaminant is presented. Graphene oxide, protonated graphitic carbon nitride, and a composite of graphitic carbon nitride and graphene oxide were explored as support materials for Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were incorporated with the different carbonaceous substrates to afford graphene-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (GO-CTS), protonated graphitic carbon nitride-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (PCN-CTS), and graphene oxide/protonated graphitic carbon nitride-supported Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> (GO/PCN-CTS). Physicochemical, structural, and optical properties of the prepared nanocomposites were characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis near infrared, and fluorescence spectrophotometry. The compositing of the Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles on the support materials was confirmed by the characterization techniques, and the optical properties of the composites were found to be influenced by the nature of the support material. The incorporation of CTS into the support materials resulted in a reduction in band gap energy with evaluated band gaps of 1.65, 1.46, 1.43 eV, and 1.16 eV. The reduction in band gap energy suggests the potential of the composites for enhanced photocatalytic activity. From the photocatalytic study, the degradation efficiency of tetracycline by CTS, PCN-CTS, GO-CTS, and PC/GO-CTS was 74.1, 85.2, 90.9, and 96.5%, respectively. All the composites showed enhanced activity compared to pristine CTS, and the existence of a synergy between GO and PCN when both were employed as support materials was observed. Based on the charge carrier recombination characteristics and the band edge potential calculations from the composites, a possible mechanism of action of each composite was proposed. This study therefore confirms the possibility of modulating the mechanism of action and subsequently the efficiency of semiconductor materials by altering the nature of the support material.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/1/14photocatalysiscopper tin sulfidenanocompositescarbonaceous supporttetracycline |
| spellingShingle | Olalekan C. Olatunde Damian C. Onwudiwe A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> Catalysts photocatalysis copper tin sulfide nanocomposites carbonaceous support tetracycline |
| title | A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_full | A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_fullStr | A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_short | A Comparative Study of the Effect of Graphene Oxide, Graphitic Carbon Nitride, and Their Composite on the Photocatalytic Activity of Cu<sub>3</sub>SnS<sub>4</sub> |
| title_sort | comparative study of the effect of graphene oxide graphitic carbon nitride and their composite on the photocatalytic activity of cu sub 3 sub sns sub 4 sub |
| topic | photocatalysis copper tin sulfide nanocomposites carbonaceous support tetracycline |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/1/14 |
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