Ultrasonic synthesis of g-C₃N₄/CdS composites and their photodegradation, catalytic reduction, antioxidant and antimicrobial studies

ABSTRACT

The g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, CdS NPs, and g-C₃N₄/CdS composite were fabricated using sonochemical method for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of CV dye, MCP pesticide and catalytic reduction of 4-NP using NaBH₄ as a reducing agent. The synthesized nanocatalysts were characterized by various physicochemical techniques. The g-C₃N₄/CdS composite was capably degradation of CV and MCP, and catalyze the reduction of 4-NP to 4-AP in the presence of NaBH₄ very efficiently with good recyclability up to five cycles than g-C₃N₄ and CdS NPs. Further, the temperature effect on the catalytic reduction of 4-NP using g-C₃N₄/CdS composites was also studied. The catalytic reduction reaction follows the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The corresponding rate constants increased with the temperature, revealing activation energy of 26.42 kJ/mol. The scavenging radicals from the antioxidant activity of the synthesized composites were determined by DPPH method. In addition, the synthesized composites showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities using paper disc method.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• G-C₃N₄/CdS composites
• heterogeneous photocatalysis
• 4-Nitrophenol reduction
• DPPH scavenging
• Antimicrobial activity

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Head, Department of Chemistry, Osmania University for providing the necessary facilities. The authors would like to thank DST–FIST, New Delhi, India for providing necessary analytical facilities in the department.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Not applicable.

Notes on contributors

Dasari Ayodhya

Dr. Dasari Ayodhya received his M.Sc. (Physical Chemistry) degree in 2008 and Ph.D. (Physical Chemistry-Material Science) degree in 2016 from Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana State, India. To date, he has published more than 35 research articles and 1 review article in reputed international journals. His current research interest comprises of green synthesis of semiconductor nanostructures using various capping agents such as plant materials, amino acids, nucleosides, polymers, graphene-based materials and their applications towards drug delivery, heavy metal ions detection, photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants (dyes, pesticides, nitrophenols, and industrial waste) for wastewater treatment and biological activities (anti-tumour and anti-cancer activities).

Guttena Veerabhadram

Guttena Veerabhadram is a Professor in during the period of 1983-till date in the Department of Chemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India. He was also Former Head and Former Chairperson, Board of Studies of the same Department. He received his M.Sc. (1978) and Ph.D. (1982) in Chemistry from Osmania University. He was a visiting professor at Omar Mukhtar University, Libya (2009-2010). To date, he has published more than 85 research papers and 10 students obtained their Ph.D. degrees under his supervision. His research interests cover Electrochemistry and Material Science and their applications towards the sensors, photocatalysis and drug-delivery systems.