In this research, an innovative Z-scheme vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 )/graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 ) photocatalyst was

synthesised using a facile thermal treatment method, and its photodegradation performance and physicochemical properties

were evaluated. The heterostructure provided high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area and pore volume, which encouraged

charge carrier separation and transfer, as well as supplied abundant micro-mesoporous structures and active sites for

photocatalytic redox reactions. The successful incorporation of V 2 O 5 between g-C 3 N 4 layers can be proven by proposing the

synthesis mechanism, as well as conducting morphology, crystal structure, elemental, and chemical analysis through scanning

electron microscopy, X-ray diff raction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively.

Using these combined photocatalysts, ciprofl oxacin (CIP) was successfully degraded up to 90.17% removal effi ciency

in the visible-light spectrum. The superior photocatalytic activity of g-C 3 N 4 composite over V 2 O 5 is primarily due to its

increased light absorption capacity, as well as increased surface area, pore size, and volume, eff ective charge transfer, and

optimal band alignment between g-C 3 N 4 and V 2 O 5 . This research provides a signifi cant future perspective for the utilisation

of Z-scheme V 2 O 5 /g-C 3 N 4 heterojunction photocatalyst for water treatment, especially those involving endocrine-disrupting

compounds and antibiotics like CIP.