Novel magnetic g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgCl nanocomposites: Facile and large-scale preparation and highly efficient photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation

We report a facile and large-scale method for the preparation of novel magnetically separable g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgCl nanocomposites at 96 °C. The microstructure, morphology, purity, electronic, thermal, and magnetic properties of the prepared samples were studied using X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive analysis of X-rays, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques. The results showed that the weight percent of AgCl in the nanocomposites has a remarkable influence on the degradation of rhodamine B under visible-light irradiation and the g-C3N4/Fe3O4/AgCl (40%) nanocomposite showed superior activity. Photocatalytic activity of this nanocomposite was about 7.7 and 7-fold higher than those of the g-C3N4, and g-C3N4/Fe3O4 (2:1), respectively. It was found that the degradation rate constant increases by increasing the refluxing time up to 60 min and decreases thereafter. Based on the photoluminescence spectra of the samples, the enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the efficient separation of the charge carriers. Finally, the photocatalyst was magnetically separated from the treated solution after five successive cycles.