Modulation of Electronic Availability in g-C₃N₄ Using Nickel (II), Manganese (II), and Copper (II) to Enhance the Disinfection and Photocatalytic Properties

Carbon nitrides can form coordination compounds or metallic oxides in the presence of transition metals, depending on the reaction conditions. By adjusting the pH to basic levels for mild synthesis with metals, composites like g-C₃N₄-M(OH)_x (where M represents metals) were obtained for nickel (II) and manganese (II), while copper (II) yielded coordination compounds such as Cu-g-C₃N₄. These materials underwent spectroscopic and electrochemical characterization, revealing their photocatalytic potential to generate superoxide anion radicals-a feature consistent across all metals. Notably, the copper coordination compound also produced significant hydroxyl radicals. Leveraging this catalytic advantage, with band gap energy in the visible region, all compounds were activated to disinfect E. coli bacteria, achieving total disinfection with Cu-g-C₃N₄. The textural properties influence the catalytic performance, with copper's stabilization as a coordination compound enabling more efficient activity compared to the other metals. Additionally, the determination of radicals generated under light in the presence of dicloxacillin supported the proposed mechanism and highlighted the potential for degrading organic molecules with this new material, alongside its disinfectant properties.