Graphatic-C3N4@MoO3 heterostructure synthesis via a facile green route and their visible light-driven photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Rhodamine B dye

A green approach was employed for the synthesis of heterostructures of g-C3N4@MoO3 and characterized by XRD, UV–vis, SEM and FTIR techniques to evaluate the structural, morphological, and optical features of the heterostructures. The XRD analysis revealed the high crystallinity and intensity of g-C3N4/MoO3 higher than the g-C3N4 and MoO3. The g-C3N4 shows a crumpled layered arrangement and a MoO3 rod-like structure. The refractive index (n), bandgap energy (Eg) and extinction coefficient (k) (optical properties) are determined by UV–vis spectroscopy. The g-C3N4/MoO3 optical properties like k (2.15), n (2.37), dielectric coefficient (0.43), electronegativity (0.739) and bandgap energy (2.75 eV) were enhanced significantly. In visible region, the g-C3N4/MoO3 demonstrated excellent performance for the degradation of RhB dye. The mobility and detachment of electron-hole pairs in type-II heterojunction semiconductors are responsible for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity (PCA) in visible region, which can be utilized for the dyes remediation in effluents under natural sunlight irradiation.