Study of Novel Photocatalysts for Efficient Degradation of Environmental Pollutants under Visible Light

Abstract

Growing industrialization and urban activities have increased the release of harmful organic pollutants into aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, necessitating advanced remediation technologies that operate efficiently under sustainable conditions. Visible-light-driven photocatalysis has emerged as a promising environmental treatment method due to its ability to utilize abundant solar radiation while achieving high degradation rates for persistent contaminants. This study evaluates novel photocatalysts including doped metal oxides, polymeric carbon nitride, and plasmonic nanostructures and investigates their physicochemical behavior, photocatalytic efficiency, charge-carrier dynamics, and structural stability under continuous visible-light exposure. Experimental work involved pollutant degradation trials using dyes, pesticides, and pharmaceutical residues as model contaminants, while monitoring reaction kinetics and mineralization potential. Results demonstrated that metal–nonmetal co-doped TiO₂ and Ag–g-C₃ N₄ hybrids exhibited significantly enhanced visible-light absorption and reduced electron–hole recombination, leading to degradation efficiencies exceeding 90% for selected pollutants. Stability tests confirmed minimal structural decay after repeated cycles. The findings underscore the potential of engineered photocatalysts as scalable solutions for environmental rehabilitation. The work contributes important guidelines for material selection, photocatalyst engineering, and practical deployment in wastewater purification systems.