Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic studies of defect pyrochlore, KMn0·33Te1·67O6 and its composite with g-C3N4

Skeletal materials belonging to the defect pyrochlore family have been the subject of considerable interest due to their remarkable properties. In this work, a highly efficient, stable and visible light active composite photocatalytic system consisting of defect pyrochlore of composition KMn0·33Te1·67O6 (KMnTeO) and g-C3N4 (g-CN) has been successfully prepared by simple physical mixing of pre-prepared KMnTeO and g-CN components synthesized in solid state and thermal treatment of low-cost melamine, respectively. Structural, morphological and optical properties of as-prepared catalysts were deduced from powder X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Raman, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy-High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM-HRTEM), Ultraviolet–Visible Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The lattice parameter “a” of parent KMnTeO was obtained from Rietveld refinement of its powder XRD pattern. The FT-IR and Raman spectra of KMnTeO gave characteristic bands belonging to the defect pyrochlore structure. The photocatalytic activities of KMnTeO and composite KMnTeO-g-CN were evaluated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB). Scavenger experiments were carried out to identify the reactive species responsible for the degradation of MB. Furthermore, the reusability and stability of the photocatalysts were explored. The probable photocatalytic mechanism for MB degradation over the composite KMnTeO-g-CN was surmised according to the scavenger experiments. The work provides a new approach for the development of novel defect pyrochlore based composite photocatalysts to treat industrial wastewater containing organic pollutants.