Z‐Scheme Enabled 1D/2D Nanocomposite of ZnO Nanorods and Functionalized g‐C3 N4 Nanosheets for Sustainable Degradation of Terephthalic Acid

Abstract The urgent need to mitigate water pollution and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14)‐Life below water, necessitates developing efficient and eco‐friendly wastewater treatment technologies. This research addresses this challenge by photocatalytic degradation of terephthalic acid, a precursor for PET bottles using environment‐friendly and biocompatible photocatalysts. The 1D/2D nanocomposite comprising zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods and functionalized graphitic carbon nitride (Zn‐TG) nanosheets were synthesized and thoroughly characterized. The nanocomposite effectively mitigated the individual drawbacks of Zn‐TG agglomeration and the wide band gap of ZnO as confirmed through zeta potential and Tauc′s plot studies, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposite achieved ~100 % degradation within 60 minutes, exhibiting superior kinetics (~2.5 times) compared to pristine samples. The enhanced degradation efficiency was elucidated by efficient charge carrier transfer (~5 times faster) and separation (~2 times improved) as confirmed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and time‐resolved photoluminescence studies. The proposed Z‐scheme pathway provides mechanistic insights. This proposed mechanism is supported by extensive electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and scavenger studies. The liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis confirms the formation of less toxic byproducts for ensuring that the wastewater treatment process is efficient and environmentally friendly. This research helps in developing a highly effective and sustainable wastewater treatment technology.