Work

One-step green synthesis of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride as a catalyst for the enhanced NaBH4-assisted catalytic reduction of methylene blue

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The development of efficient wastewater treatment technologies for removing organic pollutants from the textile industry effluents remains a critical global challenge. Therefore, in this study, we explored the catalytic reduction of methylene blue using carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride (C-g-C3N4) as a simple, effective, and sustainable approach. Carbon doping was achieved through a facile imidazole-assisted synthesis, with the level of doping in the material controlled by varying the imidazole concentration introduced during the polycondensation reaction, ranging from 2 to 5 wt%. The resulting materials were thoroughly characterized using various techniques. The catalytic reduction efficiency of the materials was evaluated for the degradation of methylene blue in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The XRD pattern showed two peaks–17.4° and 27.6° for pristine g-C3N4 and 17.3° and 27.5° for C-doped g-C3N4-which are indexed to the (1 0 0) peak of triazine unit and the (0 0 2) peak associated with interlayer stacking. The bandgap energies of pristine g-C3N4 and 3C-doped g-C3N4 were 2.47 eV and 2.37 eV, respectively, with a redshift in the absorption edge, indicating modified electronic properties. Furthermore, the materials g-C3N4, 2C-g-C3N4, 3C-g-C3N4, 4C-g-C3N4, and 5C-g-C3N4 catalysts demonstrated degradation efficiencies of 77 %, 90.9 %, 92.9 %, 88.4 % and 89.4 %, respectively, with the doped g-C3N4 showing enhanced activity compared to the pristine material. This study demonstrated a green, imidazole-assisted synthesis of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride, combining sustainable processing with engineered electronic and surface properties for effective NaBH₄-assisted catalytic reduction of methylene blue for advanced wastewater treatment.

Source: Results in Chemistry

DOI: 10.1016/j.rechem.2025.102611

Authors: Olalekan C. Olatunde, Damian C. Onwudiwe, Seshibe Makgato

Institutions: University of South Africa, North-West University

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,870