Synthesis of magnetic NiFeO/g-CN heterojunction photocatalysts for boosting dye degradation performance under visible-light irradiation.

Water pollution from dyes in wastewater is a critical global issue, as these stable organic dyes resist biodegradation, posing serious threats to aquatic ecosystems. To address this situation, advanced photocatalysts have been developed. Here, NiFeO/g-CN was synthesized for the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in the presence of HO and visible light. Physicochemical analysis results showed NiFeO nanoparticles dispersed in the g-CN matrix, with an upward trend in the saturation magnetization of CNF as NiFeO content rose. The surface area of CNF30 was 62.3 m g, outperforming both NiFeO (23.2 m g) and g-CN (48.5 m g). NiFeO/g-CN could be reused up to four cycles, and efficiently catalyzed the degradation of nearly 98% RhB dye, showing a decreased rate of up to 95% COD. Through scavenger studies, the main role of ˙OH was demonstrated. Therefore, highly efficient and recyclable NiFeO/g-CN can be a potential photocatalyst for degradation of dyes.