One-step method for preparation of Fe3O4/g-C3N4 composite using hydrazine for heterogeneous photocatalysis

Abstract

Environmental pollution and the global energy demand have significantly increased, necessitating sustainable development strategies, with advanced functional materials emerging as key solutions. Specifically, photocatalysis technology has attracted considerable attention due to its ability to utilize solar energy to degrade pollutants and produce clean fuels. This study presents the synthesis of Fe 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composites using a one-step hydrazine reduction method. The catalytic properties were analyzed by XRD, SEM, FTIR, and UV-Vis DRS. In conclusion, results confirmed the successful formation of highly crystalline Fe 3 O 4 uniformly distributed on g-C 3 N 4 , along with a significant improvement in visible light absorption. Moreover, the evaluation of photocatalytic performance illustrated that the composite material demonstrated high activity, achieving a degradation efficiency of over 90% within 120 min of light exposure. Importantly, under photo-Fenton conditions, the Fe 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 composite achieved complete RB5 degradation (100%) within only 40 min. Furthermore, the Fe 3 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 synthesize by hydrazine also demonstrated excellent stability, maintaining over 90% degradation after 7 cycles, with the total iron leaching is 4.8% compare to the total iron content. These findings highlight the promising application potential of composite materials in textile wastewater treatment.