Enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting, and photocatalytic and piezo-photocatalytic pollutant removal performance over CdS/g-C3N4/ZnO ternary heterojunctions

• Published in: Materials research bulletin 2024-12, Vol.180, p.113063, Article 113063
• Main Authors: Gotipamul, Pavan.P., Reddy, Damodar, Saravanan, Prabhu, Campos, Cristian H., Sanhueza-Gómez, Felipe, Chidambaram, Siva
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: CdS/g-C3N4/ZnO; g-C3N4/ZnO; Photocatalysis; Photoelectrochemical; Piezo-photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0025-5408
• DOI: 10.1016/j.materresbull.2024.113063

•CdS/g-C3N4/ZnO (CdCN/Z) heterojunctions with interfacial interactions was prepared.•60CdCN/Z showed decreased e-/h+ pairs recombination under visible light.•5.8-fold photon-to-hydrogen conversion was achieved by 60CdCN/Z than the bare ZnO.•60CdCN/Z also showed 99 % piezo-photocatalytic degradation of RhB in 45 min. Fromation of CdS/g-C3N4/ZnO (CdCN/Z) ternary composites for the water splitting application is reported here. Produced materials were studied for physicochemical, optical, photo-electrochemical (PEC) and photocatalytic pollutant degradation properties. The current density of CdCN/Z exhibited as 7.4 mA/cm2 which is 26.4, 21.7, 14.25, and 5.92 folds higher than g-C3N4 (CNU), ZnO (Z), CdS, and CNU/Z, respectively. Additionally, the CdCN/Z composite achieved a higher photon-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 0.8 %. The finale composite exhibited a effectual degradation of RhB (99 % in 45 min) in water under light and ultrasonication exposure. The coupling of CNU/Z with CdS promoted the optical absorbance in the longer wavelength. This configuration had facilitated the enhanced photogenerated charge carriers separation. The contemporary work validates that the prepared CdCN/Z heterojunction is an auspicious photocatalyst for effectual water splitting as well as photocatalytic elimination of dye pollutants. [Display omitted]