Crafting high-performance CuZnO₂/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposites: unleashing the power of dual-functional photocatalysis and antibacterial action

Visible light-driven applications utilizing semiconducting metal oxide-based photocatalyst is one of the unique strategies for environmental cleanness. The photocatalytic materials were prepared by using simple hydrothermal method and materials characterization was done by analytical techniques. The CZG (1:2) nanocatalyst showed enhanced photocatalytic performance (96%) and greater kinetics reaction rate (0.0148 min⁻¹) than the single counterparts, which revealed that the behavior enhanced the charge carrier’s separation. It is also attributed to the improved heterojunction of interfacial contact between the copper zincate and graphitic carbon nitrate (g-C₃N₄). Furthermore, the stability of the sample was proved after the fifth cycle of photodegradation over the Rhodamine B. The trapping experiment declared that the OH⁻ is the most responsible and dominant reactive species for degradation reaction. Based on the outcomes of the novel research, bimetallic compounds attained the established photocatalytic potential against organic pollutants. Additionally, the plausible mechanism is also discussed with the influence of scavengers. Furthermore, the diffusion well method was used to evaluate the samples’ antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria. CuZnO₂ and g-C₃N₄ in a 1:2 nanocomposite showed better antibacterial capabilities. The composites’ enhanced photocatalytic and antibacterial properties are mainly ascribed to the combined effect of the heterojunction that forms between g-C₃N₄ and CuZnO₂.