Synthesis of tin selenide nanoparticles using Polygonum avicular extract decorated on graphitic carbon nitride for enhancing photodegradation of amoxicillin trihydrate and photoproduction of hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

In this research, tin selenide nanoparticles (SnSe-NPs) were synthesized using Polygonum avicular extract via the hydrothermal method and decorated on graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) by the simple sonicated method to produce SnSe/g-C₃N₄ composites. The characterization and properties of the SnSe/g-C₃N₄ composites, as compared to pristine SnSe and g-C₃N₄, were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Mott-Schottky, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. As a result, the SnSe-NPs possessed the rod-like shape and after the decoration onto the g-C₃N₄ sheet surface, it reduced the bandgap energy of the g-C₃N₄ from 2.58 downward 1.43 eV. Besides, the photoactivities of the 10-SnSe/g-C₃N₄ catalyst were investigated via both sides of amoxicillin trihydrate (AMXT) photodegradation and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) photoproduction, in which the results were achieved 87.84 % AMXT and 85.48 μM H₂O₂, respectively, under visible light. Furthermore, the photodegradation was consistent with the pseudo-first-order kinetics and it performed the highest photodegradation at pH ∼5, while the importance of isopropyl alcohol as a trapping agent and •O₂⁻ radicals was affirmed in the H₂O₂ photoproduction. Moreover, the photoproduction of H₂O₂ was remained after 4 cycles achieved at 62.70 % in the final cycle, which demonstrated the stability and reusability of the 10-SnSe/g-C₃N₄. These aforementioned results demonstrate that the SnSe/g-C₃N₄ material is a promising candidate for addressing environmental pollution and energy scarcity issues.