TiO2:Cu-modified g-C3N4 nanocomposites for photocatalysis and energy storage applications

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diamond.2026.113991

In this work, g- Image 1001 :Cu nanocomposites were synthesized via a cost-effective sol–gel strategy, enabling the in situ growth of TiO2:Cu nanoparticles on exfoliated g-C3N4 nanosheets. The structural, morphological, and optical characteristics were systematically investigated using XRD, FTIR, EPR, TEM–SEM, PL, UV–Vis, surface area and porosity measurements, as well as XPS spectroscopy. The formation of a well-defined g- Image 1002 heterojunction, combined with Cu-induced defect states, promotes efficient charge separation and enhanced interfacial charge transfer. As a result, the g- Image 1003 :Cu (1%) photocatalyst exhibits superior activity, achieving 70% pollutant removal after 5 h of irradiation. In parallel, electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the g- Image 1004 :Cu 3% electrode delivers the highest specific capacitance of 168.83 F/g, energy density of 23.03 Wh/kg and power density of 1658 W/kg, highlighting the beneficial role of optimized Cu doping in facilitating ion/electron transport. The improved multifunctional performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between the heterojunction interface and Cu-induced electronic modulation. These findings provide insight into the structure–property–performance relationships governing hybrid photocatalytic–electrochemical materials and highlight the potential of Cu-modified g- Image 1005 nanostructures for sustainable environmental and energy-related applications.