Fabrication of g-C3N4/WO3 Nanocomposite for Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B and Electrochemical Sensing of 2-Nitrophenol.

In this study, a novel photocatalyst comprising graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and tungsten oxide (WO3) in different weight ratios was fabricated through a facile synthesis method. The synthesized nanocomposites were characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV–vis spectroscopy to elucidate their structural and optical properties. The photocatalytic performance of the g-C3N4/WO3 nanocomposite was evaluated for Rhodamine (RhB) degradation under visible light irradiation. Remarkably, the 3 wt % g-C3N4/WO3 nanocomposite exhibited a superior degradation efficiency of 96% (rate constant ~ 0.02714 min−1) compared to pure g-C3N4 and WO3. The major role was played by both holes (h+) and superoxide anion radicals (•O2−) in the degradation process. This performance is attributed to the synergistic effect between the two components, which facilitated efficient charge separation leading to decreased recombination of photo-generated electron–hole pairs, and improved light absorption. Additionally, the optimized nanocomposite was employed for electrochemical detection of 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), showcasing remarkable sensitivity (limit of detection ~ 0.22 µM) and selectivity towards 2-NP. This positions it as a promising candidate for environmental monitoring applications. In summary, this study underscores the potential of the g-C3N4/WO3 nanocomposite in wastewater treatment as a visible light photocatalyst, alongside its utility in electrochemical sensing of organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]