|
October 27, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations The newly-developed CuWO₄@g-C₃N₄ composite can be used for both environmental purification and energy production.
Finding sustainable solutions to global energy and environmental challenges remains one of the most urgent goals in modern science. One of the leading strategies in this field is the development of multifunctional materials capable of performing different functions simultaneously.
Researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Gebze Technical University (GTU) and the Department of Energy Systems Engineering at İzmir Institute of Technology (IZTECH), Research Assistant Nurseli Görener Erdem (GTU), Prof. Esra Bilgin-Şimşek (GTU), Assoc. Prof. İrem Fırtına-Ertiş (GTU), Assoc. Prof. Özlem Tuna (IZTECH), Research Assistant Ece İnan (IZTECH), and Assoc. Prof. Başar Çağlar (IZTECH), have developed a powerful composite material by combining copper tungstate (CuWO₄) particles with graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) in a cylindrical structure.
Key Findings of the Study Photocatalytic purification: The composite achieved 83 percent degradation of the antibiotic residue tetracycline. Hydrogen production: Under sunlight, it reached a hydrogen generation capacity of 2538 μmol per gram per hour. Energy storage: It exhibited supercapacitor performance with a specific capacitance of 212 F/g.
Why It Matters Versatility: The same material can be applied to both environmental pollution treatment and renewable energy generation and storage. Improved efficiency: The material absorbs visible light more effectively, enhances charge carrier separation, and reduces energy loss. Sustainable future: The study opens new horizons for solar-powered hydrogen production and environmentally friendly energy storage systems.
These findings demonstrate that the CuWO₄@g-C₃N₄ composite is a promising material candidate for renewable energy technologies, offering potential for real-world applications in clean energy systems.
The study has been published in the journal Renewable Energy (2026).
📄 Source: Erdem, N.G., Çağlar, B., İnan, E., Tuna, Ö., Ertiş, İ.F., & ark. (2026). Incorporation of CuWO4 with hollow tubular g-C3N4: Harnessing the potential in photocatalytic degradation, hydrogen production, and supercapacitor applications. Renewable Energy. 👉 DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.12423 |
