Synthesis of a novel ternary (g-C3N4 nanosheets loaded with Mo doped ZnOnanoparticles) nanocomposite for superior photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

Mudassar Sher; Sammia Shahid; Mohsin Javed

doi:10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112202

Synthesis of a novel ternary (g-C₃N₄ nanosheets loaded with Mo doped ZnOnanoparticles) nanocomposite for superior photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

J Photochem Photobiol B. 2021 Jun:219:112202. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112202. Epub 2021 Apr 27.

Authors

Mudassar Sher¹, Sammia Shahid², Mohsin Javed²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan. Electronic address: mudassarsher786@gmail.com.
² Department of Chemistry, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.

PMID: 33946027
DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2021.112202

Abstract

This article reports the synthesis of a novel ternary Visible-Light-Driven (VLD) photocatalyst and antibacterial agent. The two-dimensional graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C₃N₄ NSs) and 7% molybdenum doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Mo doped ZnO NPs) were used for the synthesis of the 65% g-C₃N₄ hybridized with 7% Mo doped ZnO novel ternary nanocomposite (Mo doped ZnO/g-C₃N₄ ternary NC). The synthesis process, as well as the structures, morphologies, photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of the synthesized ternary NC and constituents, were investigated by using several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. It was revealed through the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) characterization of the synthesized NC that the Mo doped ZnO NPs were found uniformly embedded upon the well-stacked g-C₃N₄NSs. It was further discovered by the bandgap analysis that the light absorbance ability of the ternary NC exists in the visible region of the light spectrum. The photocatalytic degradation of the methylene blue (MB) by the use of novel ternary NC in an aqueous medium was analyzed while using Ultra Violet-Visible (UV-Visible) spectroscopy. Trapping experiments of active species during the photodegradation and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) experiment revealed that the superoxide and hydroxyl radicals were the leading species liable for MB deterioration. The ternary NC exhibited superior photocatalytic performance as compared with binary doped or hybridized nanomaterials (NMs) and mono photocatalysts due to the facility of effective migration and separation of the charge carriers across the (Mo doped ZnO NPs)/g-C₃N₄ NSs interface of the heterojunction. The increased generation of the reactive oxygen species (ROS), O^2-, and ^•OH radicals the photogenerated charge carriers within the Mo doped ZnO/g-C₃N₄ NC were found responsible for its enhanced antibacterial performance.

Keywords: Antibacterial; Degradation; Heterojunction; Photocatalyst; Ternary nanocomposite.

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
Catalysis
Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects
Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects
Graphite / chemistry*
Hydroxyl Radical / chemistry
Light*
Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry
Methylene Blue / chemistry
Molybdenum / chemistry
Nanocomposites / chemistry*
Nanocomposites / toxicity
Nitrogen Compounds / chemistry*
Photolysis / radiation effects*
Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Nitrogen Compounds
graphitic carbon nitride
Hydroxyl Radical
Graphite
Molybdenum
Zinc Oxide
Methylene Blue