Abstract
Abstract Organic dyes and hazardous heavy metals in wastewater continue to pose a serious threat to the environment, making the development of effective, environmentally responsible methods for wastewater treatment essential. In this work, Phyllanthus amarus leaf extract was used to synthesize Samarium Vanadate nanoparticles (SmVO₄ NPs) in an environmentally friendly manner. The nanoparticles were then anchored onto graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets. The crystalline structure and successful integration of SmVO₄ onto g-C₃N₄ were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated prolonged light absorption into the visible range. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that SmVO₄ nanoparticles were uniformly distributed across g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, with lattice fringe spacing that matched the (211) plane of SmVO₄. According to Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, the composite’s surface area rose by 50.6 m²/g, which improved reactant adsorption. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra showed decreased recombination and improved charge carrier separation, which is in line with the superior photocurrent response detected. The optimised composite, which contained 20 weight% SmVO₄, outperformed pristine g-C₃N₄ by achieving remarkable photocatalytic degradation efficiencies of 82% for Naphthol Blue Black (NBB) and 95% for Cr (VI) under visible light. Excellent stability and recyclability were demonstrated by the catalyst over seven cycles with negligible efficiency loss. These findings highlight the potential of green synthesised SmVO₄@g-C₃N₄ composites for environmentally friendly wastewater treatment and environmental remediation.
NETL
NSTL
Springer Nature