Abstract

Effective management of polluted water from the textile industry remains a formidable challenge. This study introduces a novel approach to enhance photocatalytic capabilities for wastewater treatment. A Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst, comprising nitrogen-rich graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N5) and SnO2, was synthesized via a simple thermal decomposition method. The pebble-like morphology of the SnO2/10 wt% g-C3N5 composite exhibited remarkable photodegradation efficiency under visible light. Specifically, it achieved 98.1% degradation of organic pollutants, surpassing bare g-C3N5, SnO2, and SnO2/5 wt% g-C3N5 counterparts. The superior performance is attributed to enhanced charge separation facilitated by the Z-scheme mechanism, extending the photocatalyst's activity into the visible spectrum. Stability tests revealed consistent high efficiency (degradation after five cycles), emphasizing the composite's robustness. Mechanistic insights into the photocatalytic process highlight the pivotal role of molecular oxygen (O2) in pollutant degradation. This work advances understanding of photocatalytic mechanisms and underscores the composite's potential for sustainable wastewater treatment in the textile industry.