Facile preparation of CuS-g-C3N4/Ag nanocomposite with improved photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B

In this research, the ternary nanocomposite CuS-g-C3N4/Ag as a visible-light-responsive photocatalyst with optimum Ag and CuS contents was synthesized through a reliable and effective method to modify the photocatalytic performance of bare g-C3N4. The as-prepared nanocomposite was characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), XRD (X-ray diffraction), UV–vis DRS (UV–vis diffuse reflectance), EDX (Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), ICP (Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy), FE-SEM (Field emission scanning electron microscopy). The photocatalytic performance of CuS-g-C3N4/Ag nanocomposite was examined via studying the abatement of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. It is found that photocatalytic effectiveness of the obtained nanocomposite (CuS-g-C3N4/Ag) is superior to that of bare g-C3N4 and g-C3N4/Ag which can be related to the synergetic effect of Ag, CuS nanoparticles, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) in the CuS-g-C3N4/Ag nanocomposite. Also SPR effect of Ag nanoparticles and fast generation, separation and slow recombination of charge carriers can improve the optical properties of the synthesized nanocopmposite (CuS-g-C3N4/Ag). The probable mechanism for degradation of RhB over the CuS-g-C3N4/Ag nanocomposite was discussed based on the results obtained from active species trapping tests.