Fabrication of LaFeO₃-nitrogen deficient g-C₃N₄ composite for enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of RhB under sunlight irradiation

LaFeO₃-nitrogen deficient g-C₃N₄ (LaFeO₃-g-C₃N₄-H) heterostructure has been fabricated obtaining thermal polymerization of acetic acid-treated melamine followed by incorporation of perovskite-type LaFeO₃ onto the graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C₃N₄) using La(NO₃)₃·6H₂O and Fe(NO₃)₃·9H₂O as precursors. The as-synthesized nanocomposite was investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Scanning Electron microscope (SEM), and Transmission Electron microscope (TEM). The findings of the characterization study revealed the successful incorporation of LaFeO₃ on g-C₃N₄-H nanosheets. The band gap energy of LaFeO₃-g-C₃N₄-H heterojunctions was found to be active in the visible light region. The LaFeO₃-g-C₃N₄-H ability to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in an aqueous solution was investigated under sunlight illumination. The results of photocatalytic degradation activity showed that LaFeO₃-g-C₃N₄-H photocatalyst has presented the highest photocatalytic efficiency of 99.5% after 60 min under sunlight irradiation. The remarkable photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the defect structure of g-C₃N₄ and the construction of heterojunction. In addition, LaFeO₃-g-C₃N₄-H showed promise recyclability after 5 cycles with slight activity reduction.