Nabilah Saafie, Suriati Sufian, Nandang Mufti, Mohamad Fakhrul Ridhwan Samsudin
The g-C3N4/MXene heterojunction photocatalyst was effectively developed using the wet impregnation synthesis method, and its physicochemical properties were thoroughly characterised. The composites of the g-C3N4/MXene was prepared by mixing the MXene to varies amount of g-C3N4 (0.1–1.2 wt.%). MXene with 0.4 wt.% g-C3N4 exhibited the optimal loading on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue under visible light, with a degradation efficiency of > 99% within 150 min. XRD, FTIR, FESEM, SAP, and DR-UV-Vis were utilised to characterise the g-C3N4/MXene heterojunction photocatalyst as developed. It was discovered that the introduction of g-C3N4 affects the oxygenated functional groups and increases photocatalytic activity by increasing the density of free carrier electrons and inhibiting electron–hole recombination. However, it was revealed that excessive concentration of g-C3N4 can significantly inhibit photocatalytic activity. The FESEM-EDX analysis revealed Al element was decreased up to 70% for 0.4GM thus increase the intervals between the MXene layers with higher exposed oxygen active sites for photocatalytic degradation. Corresponds to that, 0.4GM has the highest oxygen active sites for g-C3N4/MXene heterostructure photocatalyst which was 6.1 wt.%. The findings of this study may provide an innovative approach for enhancing the photocatalytic activity of MXene for applications requiring highly effective effluent treatment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.
Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Bandar Seri Iskandar, 32610, Malaysia; Center of Innovative Nanostructures and Nanostructures (COINN), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Seri Iskandar, 32610, Malaysia; Physics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jalan Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; Centre of Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jalan Semarang No. 5, Malang, 65145, Indonesia; PETRONAS Research Sdn Bhd, Lot 3288 & 3289, Off Jalan Ayer Hitam, Kawasan Institusi Bangi, Selangor, Kajang, 43000, Malaysia
