Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

COBALT OXIDE-GRAPHITIC CARBON NITRIDE NANOCOMPOSITE AS EFFICIENT PHOTOCATALYST FOR DEGRADATION OF AZURE A DYE

P.K. Ugale and R. Ameta

Abstract

A simple one step pyrolysis method was used for synthesis of Cobalt oxide-graphitic carbon nitride nanocomposite for the present study. The precursor used here for graphitic carbon nitride is abundantly available urea. The synthesised samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). The presence of cobalt oxide was confirmed by EDX. The flower like morphology observed in FESEM. The XRD confirmed the crystalline nature of the nanocomposite. The photocatalytic degradation of Azure A was observed under visible light using synthesized nanocomposite as photocatalyst. The various parameters like pH, concentration of dye, amount of composite and intensity of light was also observed. The present investigation showed the increased photocatalytic activity of nanocomposite as compared to g-C3N4 and cobalt oxide alone.