Design of a New ZnCo2O4 Nanoparticles/Nitrogen-Rich g-C3N4 Sheet with Improved Photocatalytic Activity Under Visible Light.

This study used an NH4Cl-induced low temperatures second-calcination approach to create a nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet that was then used to support heterometallic spinel ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles. The as-prepared p–n heterojunction ZnCo2O4/nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet was used as visible light-induced photocatalysts for the photodegradation of p-Nitrophenol. The photocatalysts were analyzed using a variety of methods, including XRD, FTIR, FE-SEM, TEM, PL, BET, and UV–Vis DRS. The combination of the ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles and the nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet produces a large number of active sites that increase the absorption of visible light and further improve the photocatalytic activity. The ZnCo2O4/nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet that was produced showed more photocatalytic activity under UV–Visible light than ZnCo2O4/g-C3N4, whereas the usage of nitrogen-rich g-C3N4 sheet considerably increases the reaction to visible light and accelerates carrier transfer. This study could offer a fresh method for creating artificial photocatalytic devices with excellent charge transfer efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]