Biomimetic Nanoarchitectonics of Ag@TiO2/g-C3N4: Unveiling kinetic and mechanistic pathways for enhanced photocatalysis

Abstract

In the pursuit of eco-friendly solutions for environmental remediation, the development of efficient photocatalyst is paramount. In this study, we report the biomimetic nanoengineering of ternary Ag@TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites (NCs) using papaya leaf extract (PLE). These hybrid photocatalysts have been designed for the degradation of diverse hazardous water contaminants, including Doxycycline (DCy) antibiotic, dinotefuran (DNF) insecticide and indigo carmine (IC) dye under sunlight irradiation. Various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques viz.XRD, UV-DRS, FT-IR, XPS, HR-TEM, FE-SEM, and EDX were employed to verify the successful tailoring of ternary nanocomposites. Among the synthesized NCs, 1 wt% Ag@TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ NCs demonstrated superior photocatalytic efficiency, achieving mitigation of DCy (97.75%; k = 4.2 × 10⁻² min⁻¹), IC (98.92%; k = 10.2 × 10⁻² min⁻¹), and DNF (94.77%, k = 4.88 × 10⁻² min⁻¹). Moreover, the prepared nanocatalysts displayed remarkable stability and reusability over multiple degradation cycles, maintaining their crystalline structure. This work not only offers a potent and green photocatalyst for environmental cleanup but also underscores the importance of sustainable nanomaterial synthesis. The findings of this study pave the development of versatile, eco-conscious nanomaterials with broad applications in removal of hazardous materials and sustainable water purification.