Fabrication of flower-like copper cobaltite/graphitic-carbon nitride (CuCo 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 ) composite with superior photocatalytic activity

Abstract Industrial discharge of synthetic dyes is one of the crucial environment issues need to be resolved. To develop efficient visible light driven photocatalyst, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) and flower-like copper cobaltite (CuCo 2 O 4 ) composites were fabricated for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) dye under simulated solar light irradiation. HRTEM result confirms the smart hybrid structure of CuCo 2 O 4 and g-C 3 N 4 were formed with superior distribution of g-C 3 N 4 on the surface of petal-like CuCo 2 O 4 structure. The photocatalytic results demonstrate that CuCo 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (1:2) with H 2 O 2 addition exhibits excellent photodegradation for MO dye (97%) with minimal time (60 min). The improved photocatalytic performances can be ascribed due to synergistic dispersion of porous CuCo 2 O 4 (p-type) and g-C 3 N 4 sheets (n-type) semiconductors provide enhanced visible light absorption with efficient separation of electrons–hole pairs. These new insight CuCo 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 based photocatalyst applicable for water splitting and treating industrial wastewater.