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<p>The simultaneous demand for clean energy and water purification drives the development of multifunctional photocatalysts and electrocatalysts. We sought to fabricate a Cu<sub>0.5</sub> Zn<sub>0.5</sub> Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>–graphitic carbon nitride hybrid using ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal processing and assess its efficacy for sun-driven degradation of rhodamine B and as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) validates the formation of pure spinel Cu<sub>0.5</sub> Zn<sub>0.5</sub> Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> phase and the presence of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study demonstrates the interfacial electronic interaction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results demonstrate that Cu<sub>0.5</sub> Zn<sub>0.5</sub> Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles are uniformly affixed to g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> sheets. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis indicates a mesoporous structure with a surface area of 33.7&#xa0;m<sup>2</sup>&#xa0;g<sup>–1</sup>. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) results yield a refined E<sub>g</sub> of 2.20&#xa0;eV and photoluminescence (PL) quenching signifies effective charge separation. Under natural sunlight, the optimized Cu<sub>0.5</sub> Zn<sub>0.5</sub> Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>–g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>(25%) degrades 94.6% of RhB in 90&#xa0;min. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) counter electrode has a power conversion efficiency of 6.14% (J<sub>sc</sub> = 15.06&#xa0;mA&#xa0;cm<sup>−2</sup>, V<sub>oc</sub> = 0.75&#xa0;V, FF = 0.64), with a charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) of 6.25&#xa0;Ω, a high saturation current density (J<sub>0</sub>) of 0.92&#xa0;mA&#xa0;cm<sup>–2</sup>, and almost 95% power conversion efficiency (PCE) retention after 15&#xa0;days. This study presents, for the first time, a CZFO–g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> heterojunction that concurrently serves as a visible-light photocatalyst and a platinum-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells, providing a sustainable approach that integrates pollutant degradation with solar energy conversion.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Synergistic Design of Cu-Zn Ferrite–g-C3N4 Hybrid Nanocomposite for Solar-Driven Pollutant Degradation and Dye-Sensitized Solar-Cell Applications

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月12日

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  • Veeranan Arunprasad,
  • Selvam Thulasi,
  • M. M. Abdulrasool,
  • M. Hema Kumar

摘要

The simultaneous demand for clean energy and water purification drives the development of multifunctional photocatalysts and electrocatalysts. We sought to fabricate a Cu0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2O4–graphitic carbon nitride hybrid using ultrasonic-assisted hydrothermal processing and assess its efficacy for sun-driven degradation of rhodamine B and as counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). X-ray Diffraction (XRD) validates the formation of pure spinel Cu0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2O4 phase and the presence of g-C3N4. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) study demonstrates the interfacial electronic interaction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results demonstrate that Cu0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2O4 nanoparticles are uniformly affixed to g-C3N4 sheets. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis indicates a mesoporous structure with a surface area of 33.7 m2 g–1. UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) results yield a refined Eg of 2.20 eV and photoluminescence (PL) quenching signifies effective charge separation. Under natural sunlight, the optimized Cu0.5 Zn0.5 Fe2O4–g-C3N4(25%) degrades 94.6% of RhB in 90 min. The dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) counter electrode has a power conversion efficiency of 6.14% (Jsc = 15.06 mA cm−2, Voc = 0.75 V, FF = 0.64), with a charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 6.25 Ω, a high saturation current density (J0) of 0.92 mA cm–2, and almost 95% power conversion efficiency (PCE) retention after 15 days. This study presents, for the first time, a CZFO–g-C3N4 heterojunction that concurrently serves as a visible-light photocatalyst and a platinum-free counter electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells, providing a sustainable approach that integrates pollutant degradation with solar energy conversion.

Graphical Abstract