Unveiling the future of environmental solutions: S-g-C₃N₄/Te-doped metal oxides (ZnO, Mn₃O₄ & SnO₂) as game-changers in photocatalytic and antibacterial technologies

Researchers aim to develop photoactive systems to address critical environmental challenges, presenting a significant ongoing challenge. This study emphasizes the construction of pure metal oxide NPs (ZnO, Mn₃O₄, and SnO₂), tellurium-doped metal oxides, and composite materials of graphitic carbon nitride/tellurium-doped metal oxides to enhance photocatalytic performance in methylene blue (MB) degradation under natural sunlight. Various characterization techniques, XRD, EDX, SEM, FTIR and UV–Vis Spectroscopy, were employed to analyze the structure, shape, and optical features of the materials. The photocatalytic degradation order for MB was determined to be pure and doped ZnO > pure & doped SnO₂ > pure & doped Mn₃O₄. ZnO NPs exhibited the highest photocatalytic degradation at 98 %, accredited to their higher crystallinity, insignificant surface area and reduced particle dimension. Pure and doped ZnO NPs demonstrated the maximum zone of inhibition, reaching 39.5 mm. Consequently, S-g-C₃N₄/Te-ZnO emerges as the most promising material, serving as both a photocatalytic and antibacterial agent.