In situ synthesis of ZnO/g-C3N4 based composites for photodegradation of methylene blue under visible light

Abstract In this study, in situ-synthesized ZnO/g-C 3 N 4 based composites were used as photocatalysts for organic pollution removal. These nanocomposites were prepared through simple calcination of a mixture of melamine and ZnO nanoparticles and underwent comprehensive evaluation of their structural, morphological, optical, and photocatalytic properties, using various analytical techniques. As the g-C 3 N 4 content increased, the band gap decreased from 3.02 to 2.94 eV. Additionally, the reduction in photoluminescence intensity confirmed the heterojunction interface between the g-C 3 N 4 and ZnO components. The photodegradation rate of methylene blue (MB) dye exhibited an increase, rising from 0.016 (min −1 )…