In the present investigation, a novel ternary nanocomposite, MgO/g-C3N4/Bi2O3, was successfully fabricated via a wet impregnation technique. The photocatalytic efficacy of this hybrid system was thoroughly assessed for the degradation of various organic pollutants, namely the antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX), the pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF), and the dye methylene blue (MB), under visible light irradiation in an aqueous medium. Extensive physicochemical characterizations were performed employing XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS, XPS, UV-DRS, PL, BET, and EIS analyses. XRD patterns confirmed the coexistence of crystalline phases corresponding to hexagonal g-C3N4, monoclinic Bi2O3, and cubic MgO, with their respective characteristic planes distinctly discernible in the composite. Morphological investigations using SEM and TEM illustrated a hybrid structure composed of nanosheets interspersed with nanorods. Optical studies revealed enhanced visible light harvesting and a reduced bandgap energy of 2.3 eV, promoting efficient photoexcitation. Under optimized conditions—10 ppm pollutant concentration, pH 6, 100 mg catalyst dosage, and 90 minutes of visible light illumination—the nanocomposite achieved remarkable degradation efficiencies of 96.2% (MB), 74.2% (CPF), and 62.7% (AMX), substantially surpassing the performances of its individual components (g-C3N4, Bi2O3, and MgO). Radical quenching experiments identified photoinduced holes (h⁺) and superoxide radicals (O2·⁻) as the primary reactive species orchestrating the degradation pathways. Importantly, the photocatalyst exhibited excellent structural robustness and maintained high photocatalytic activity over three consecutive cycles, demonstrating superior reusability and stability. These findings establish the MgO/g-C3N4/Bi2O3 nanocomposite as a highly efficient, visible-light-responsive photocatalyst for the sustainable remediation of organic contaminants in aquatic systems.
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Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants by a Novel MgO/g-C3N4/Bi2O3 Ternary Nanocomposite
Published:
03 April 2026
by MDPI
in The 1st International Online Conference on Photochemistry
session Photochemistry for Environmental Remediation
Abstract:
Keywords: Ternary Nanocomposite, Organic Pollutants, Wet Impregnation Technique, Visible-Light Photocatalysis.