One pot calcination method derived g-C₃N₄/Co₃O₄ composite for photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol

In this study, g-C₃N₄/Co₃O₄ was prepared using a one-step calcination method based on the synergetic effect principle to enhance the overall photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the nanocomposite. The surface morphology and chemical composition were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Cs-corrected field emission transmission electron microscopy (Cs-corrected STEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hybrid g-C₃N₄/Co₃O₄ composite was examined for photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (after 60 min of UV irradiation), and it exhibited better stability, excellent reusability, cost-effectiveness, and was environmentally friendly for photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol, with 81.10 % degradation capacity. g-C₃N₄ acts as a supportive conductive material for preparing a support-catalyst-type hybrid nanocomposite that improves the photocatalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol. g-C₃N₄/Co₃O₄ not only reduced the agglomeration but also improved the photocatalytic activity of g-C₃N₄ by assembling a carbon-based material with Co₃O₄ to form a hybrid nanocomposite material. Furthermore, during the photocatalytic degradation of 4-NP, the effects of free radical scavengers such as isopropyl alcohol (IPA), p-benzoquinone (BQ), and ascorbic acid (AA) for hydroxyl (^•OH), superoxide (^•O₂⁻), and holes (h⁺) were studied, respectively. Similarly, the pH study revealed 93.36 %, 87.11 %, and 38.82 % degradation capacity at pH 4, 7, and 10, respectively.