Heterojunction Engineered FeWO₄/g-C₃N₄ Nanocomposite Photocatalyst for Methyl Orange Degradation

Abstract:

This study investigates the synergistic potential of a novel heterojunction photocatalyst for methyl orange degradation. The photocatalyst comprises iron tungstate (FeWO₄) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), engineered to exploit the distinct properties of each component for enhanced photocatalytic activity. The research systematically evaluates the performance of the synthesized FeWO₄/g-C₃N₄ composite in degrading methyl orange, with an emphasis on optimizing catalytic efficiency. The photocatalyst was characterized using advanced techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to elucidate its structural and morphological properties. Key parameters such as loading concentrations were optimized to assess their influence on the photodegradation efficiency. Among tested compositions, 1.0 wt% FeWO₄/g-C₃N₄ achieved the highest degradation efficiency of MO at 78.04% within 180 minutes under UV irradiation. The heterojunction structure promoted effective charge separation, and further enhanced visible-light response. These results demonstrate the catalyst’s potential for sustainable water purification applications.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volume 1045)
• Pages: 43-49
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-p1NOCQ
• Online since: March 2026
• Authors: Alina Irwana Muhamad A'srai, Nur Ain Atisya C.M. Khairuddin, Nor Adibah Roslan, Mohd Hasmizam Razali*
• Keywords: Composite, Degradation, Heterojunction, Photocatalyst

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