Maximization of Photocatalytic Rhodamine B Dye Degradation and Hydrogen Production over g‐C₃N₄‐NaTaO₃ Heterostructure

Visible active binary g-C₃N₄ (CN) embedded NaTaO₃ (NTO) photocatalyst is synthesized via hydrothermal method, followed by annealing. The phase and morphology were confirmed as monoclinic NaTaO₃ and layered g-C₃N₄. The light-response properties of NTO-CN is significantly broadened in the visible spectrum. The elemental composition, binding energy, oxidation states of the constituent elements, and surface adsorption of the synthesized materials are characterized. The percentage of degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye employing NTO-CN heterostructure photocatalyst is computed to be 92.3%. This value is 1.66 times and 1.49 times greater than NaTaO₃ and g-C₃N₄, respectively. Pseudo-first-order rate constant value for NTO-CN heterostructure photocatalyst is calculated to be 0.0288 min^-1. This value is 3.43 times and 2.82 times greater than NaTaO₃ and g-C₃N₄, respectively. Photocatalytic water splitting experiment is performed and amount of hydrogen evolved for 5 h is measured to be 1104 μmol g^-1 for NTO-CN, which is greater by a factor of 2.32 and 1.43 as that of NaTaO₃ and g-C₃N₄, respectively. In comparison to bare g-C₃N₄ and NaTaO₃, the NTO-CN heterostructure photocatalyst demonstrates maximized photocatalytic performance. Incorporation of g-C₃N₄, broadens the visible-light harvesting ability and diminishes electron-hole recombination. This study analyzes advancing practical application of NaTaO₃ photocatalysts by forming heterostructure with g-C₃N₄.