Efficient photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B dye using ZnO/graphitic C3N4 nanocomposites synthesized by microwave

Semiconductor photocatalysis is a solution to issues of environmental pollution and energy shortage because photocatalysis can use solar energy to degrade pollutants. The photocatalytic activity can be improved by using composites of ZnO and other semiconductors. Here, composites of ZnO and polymeric graphite-like C3N4 (g-C3N4) with high photocatalytic activities were prepared by microwave synthesis. Products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B was tested under irradiation from a Xe lamp. Results show that adding graphite-like C3N4 promotes the photocatalytic activity of ZnO. Composites with 1.0 wt% g-C3N4 showed the best photodegradation efficiency, and the reaction average energy was approximately 33.71 kJ mol−1.