Iron and vanadium co-doped WO3 nanomaterial and their composites for waste water applications

Abstract

Tungsten oxide (WO3), Iron and vanadium co-doped tungsten oxide (FeVWO3), and the composite of iron and vanadium co-doped tungsten oxide with graphitic carbon nitride (FeVWO3@g-C3N4) were prepared for the photocatalytic study. WO3 and FeVWO3 were synthesized by co-precipitation, and the composite FeVWO3@g-C3N4 was synthesized by an ultra-sonication approach. All the prepared materials were analyzed by different techniques. Structural study was done by XRD, functional group analysis by FTIR, and SEM was used for the morphological study of the nanoparticles. EIS measurements were done to investigate the electrical properties of fabricated materials. Photocatalysis was performed for the band gap analysis. Pendimethalin (PM) a herbicide and aspirin (pharmaceutical product) were used in photocatalysis and degraded by the prepared photocatalysts (WO3, FeVWO3, and FeVWO3@g-C3N4). WO3 and FeVWO3 have 2.62 eV and 2.34 eV E-g values of band gap, respectively. FeVWO3 has a lower E-g value than WO3. The decrease is due to the doping, and generation of further energy levels in the band gap of the pure sample, and these energy levels cause changes in the electronic structure of the sample. The composite shows a high degradation efficiency. The percentage degradation of pendimethalin and aspirin by FeVWO3@g-C3N4 was 82.26 % and 92.84 %. It is because of the presence of g-C3N4 which provides greater surface area for better degradation efficiency.