Cost-effective fabrication of ZnO/g-C3N4 composite film coated stainless steel meshes for visible light responsive photocatalysis

The ZnO and ZnO/g-C3N4 composite films were deposited on stainless steel meshes having different apertures (370, 500, 780 and 1000 mu m) using a simple cost-effective automated tubular nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Photocatalytic studies were done for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and malachite green (MG). The photocatalytic studies reveal that the ZnO/g-C(3)N(4 )composite film having smallest aperture exhibits superior photocatalytic activity compared with other meshes. The degradation efficiency of this composite film for MB and MG dyes are 97% (irradiation time-75 min) and 95% (irradiation time-45 min), whereas for pristine ZnO film the corresponding efficiencies are only 88% and 87%. The aperture size related photocatalytic efficiency variations and the effect of g-C(3)N(4 )addition on the photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO films have been addressed with appropriate supporting experimental evidences and reports.