Unveiling the synthesis of visible-light-induced indium oxide supported graphitic carbon nitride (In2O3/g-C3N4) for photocatalytic degradation of brilliant green dye

The escalating shortage of potable water, exacerbated by increasing populations, industrial expansion, and urban growth, is a global concern for environmental sustainability. The disposal of Brilliant Green (BG) dyecontaminated wastewater from different sectors unveils a substantial danger, and traditional treatment techniques can prove expensive and inefficient. Herein, a highly efficient and cost-effective indium oxide-supported graphitic carbon nitride (In2O3/g-C3N4) photocatalyst was developed through a wet impregnation approach for its utilization in the mitigation of BG dye. Multiple characterizations were conducted to gain an understanding of the crystallographic characteristics, microstructures, composition, and optical characteristics of the prepared photocatalyst. The synthesized In2O3/g-C3N4-30 photocatalyst displayed remarkable photoactivity, with 97.31 % BG degradation in 60 min under exposure to visible light, in contrast to pure In2O3 (62.58 %) and g-C3N4 (44.7 %). The enhancement in performance is due to the decreased bandgap energy, greater surface area, and unique heterojunction architecture of In2O3/g-C3N4-30. Kinetic analysis suggested the BG degradation adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics, exhibiting rate constants of 0.0577, 0.0158, and 0.0094 min-1 for In2O3/gC3N4-30, In2O3, and g-C3N4, respectively. The optimization of significant parameters, including the influence of catalyst dose, dye concentration, pH, and interfering anions on photoactivity, was thoroughly investigated. Research on quenching studies indicated that superoxide radicals (O2 center dot-) and hydroxyl radicals (center dot OH) were the principal active species accountable for the degradation of pollutants. The recycling potential study demonstrated that the photocatalyst retained excellent photocatalytic efficacy after five consecutive uses. Ultimately, this study offers significant insights into the advancement of sophisticated In2O3/g-C3N4-30 heterojunction photocatalysts for wastewater remediation applications.