Nanostructural catalyst: metallophthalocyanine and carbon nano-onion with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity towards organic pollutants

Metallophthalocyanine (MPc) and carbon nano-onion (CNO) derivatives were synthesized and characterized by using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The unmodified CNOs and MPc–CNO derivatives were used as photocatalysts for rhodamine B (RhB) degradation under visible-light irradiation. The photocatalytic studies revealed that the MPc–CNO nanostructural materials simultaneously exhibited a high absorption capacity and an excellent visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity towards RhB. These nanostructures possess great potential for use as active photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation.