Fabrication of LaFeO3-nitrogen deficient g-C3N4 composite for enhanced the photocatalytic degradation of RhB under sunlight irradiation

LaFeO 3 -nitrogen deficient g-C 3 N 4 (LaFeO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 -H) heterostructure has been fabricated obtaining thermal polymerization of acetic acid-treated melamine followed by incorporation of perovskite-type LaFeO 3 onto the graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (g-C 3 N 4 ) using La(NO 3 ) 3 ·6H 2 O and Fe(NO 3 ) 3 ·9H 2 O as precursors. The as-synthesized nanocomposite was investigated using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), Scanning Electron microscope (SEM), and Transmission Electron microscope (TEM). The findings of the characterization study revealed the successful incorporation of LaFeO 3 on g-C 3 N 4 -H nanosheets. The band gap energy of LaFeO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 -H heterojunctions was found to be active in the visible light region. The LaFeO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 -H ability to degrade Rhodamine B (RhB) dye in an aqueous solution was investigated under sunlight illumination. The results of photocatalytic degradation activity showed that LaFeO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 -H photocatalyst has   presented the highest photocatalytic efficiency of 99.5% after 60 min under sunlight irradiation. The remarkable photocatalytic activity can be attributed to the defect structure of g-C 3 N 4 and the construction of heterojunction. In addition, LaFeO 3 -g-C 3 N 4 -H showed promise recyclability after 5 cycles with slight activity reduction.