Green route to LiZnVO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposite using Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds: a multifunctional material for photocatalysis and Latent Fingerprint Imaging

Abstract

In this work, Artocarpus heterophyllus seed powder was used as a natural, sustainable fuel to create LiZnVO4/g-C3N4 nanocomposites (LZV/g-C3N4 NCs) through a green combustion method. This environmentally friendly method provides a low-cost and non-toxic substitute for producing nanoparticles, which is consistent with the principles of green chemistry. The resulting nanocomposite was characterized using several analytical techniques. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, analyzed with the Debye-Scherrer equation, showed crystallite sizes of 39 nm for LZV/g-C3N4 NCs. UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) confirmed the successful formation of the composite and revealed a band gap of 2.7 eV, offering insights into its optical behavior. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images, supported by EDS, indicated that the synthesized composite exhibited flaky, plate-like morphology and provided detailed information on particle distribution, morphology, and surface roughness. The LZV/g-C3N4 NCs exhibited excellent photocatalytic ability, effectively degrading Rhodamine B (Rh B) dye. To assess environmental safety, green gram plants were cultivated using the treated dye effluent, and healthy plant growth confirmed the eco-friendly nature of the process. This green synthesis method not only supports sustainable production of the nanocomposite but also utilizes Artocarpus heterophyllus seeds as a green fuel, adding value to agricultural byproducts. Furthermore, the material showed potential in forensic science, particularly for latent fingerprint detection, where it enhanced fingerprint visibility and demonstrated usefulness as a forensic aid.