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Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet and benzimidazole using Ag-CoFe2O4 and its composite with graphitic carbon nitride

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Abstract

The classical co-precipitation technique was carried out for the preparation of cobalt ferrite (CFN), and Ag-doped cobalt ferrite (AgCFN). Composite with graphitic carbon nitride (AgCFN@gCN) was prepared by employing the ultrasonication method. Photocatalytic degradation activity of synthesized materials was evaluated using crystal violet (coloured compound) and benzimidazole (colourless compound) under sunlight. Various physiochemical methods such as UV–Visible, XRD, SEM, and FT-IR spectroscopy were employed for the characterization of prepared samples. XRD was used for structural characterization. The prepared nanomaterials were sized up to be < 09 nm. FT-IR spectroscopy was exploited for the functional group characterization. Surface morphology was perceived through Scanning Electron Microscope. Optical analysis was carried out using a UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The photodegradation efficiencies for crystal violet and benzimidazole were ascertained to be in the order of CFN < AgCFN < AgCFN@gCN, under sunlight. Among the synthesized photocatalysts, AgCFN@gCN was discovered to have the highest photocatalytic degradation efficiency of 52.72% and 84.21% for benzimidazole and crystal violet, respectively. The higher catalytic activity of AgCFN@gCN can be associated with its high surface area and the presence of active sites of the gCN sheets. Role of electrons (e−), holes (h+), and hydroxyl radicals \({(OH}^{*})\) in the photocatalytic activity was also assessed.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by King Khalid University through a grant (KKU/RCAMS/22) under the Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS) at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia. Authors are also thankful to the Institute of Chemistry, Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Campus, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Baghdad-Ul-Jadeed Campus, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

    Amna Irshad, Muhammad Hassaan Arshed, Humera Sabeeh, Imtisal Ayman & Muhammad Farooq Warsi

  2. Research Center for Advanced Materials Science (RCAMS), King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    H. H. Somaily

  3. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    H. H. Somaily

  4. Institute of Physics, Baghdad-ul-Jadeed Campus, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

    Noor-ul-Ain

  5. Department of Chemistry, Rahim Yar Khan Campus, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan

    Imtisal Ayman

  6. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Lose Angles, USA

    Imran Shakir

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  1. Amna Irshad
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Irshad, A., Arshed, M.H., Somaily, H.H. et al. Photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet and benzimidazole using Ag-CoFe2O4 and its composite with graphitic carbon nitride. Macromol. Res. 31, 91–104 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13233-023-00111-2

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