High interfacial charge carrier separation in Fe3O4 modified SrTiO3/Bi4O5I2 robust magnetic nano-heterojunction for rapid photodegradation of diclofenac under simulated solar-light. (15th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Amit; Sharma, Sunil Kumar; Kumar, Ajay; Sharma, Gaurav; AlMasoud, Najla; Alomar, Taghrid S.; Naushad, Mu.; ALOthman, Zeid A.; Stadler, Florian J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 315(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09-15
• Subjects: Water detoxification -- Pharmaceutical pollutants -- Photocatalytic degradation -- Z-Scheme mechanism -- Solar-light photocatalyst; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128137
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Solar-light powered environmental detoxification is surely a promising and sustainable approach for common goals of human development and ecosystem preservation. Focussing on this, we herein report fabrication of a novel solar active heterojunction Fe3 O4 @SrTiO3 /Bi4 O5 I2 an in-situ hydrothermal route. The heterojunction was used for the degradation and mineralization of anti-inflammatory drug Diclofenac (DCF) as target pollutant under simulated solar-light irradiation. Current results reveal that the optimized junction displayed 98.4% diclofenac removal in 90 min with 87.2% mineralization. The ESR probe suggests that both ● OH and ● O2 − radicals are active species involved in DCF degradation. Analysing the band structure, thermodynamic feasibility and the photocatalytic performance, a traditional mechanism was ruled out and a Z-scheme transfer was predicted. The charge separation was obviously drastically improved by the Z-scheme transfer and facilitation by Fe3 O4 and Ti 4+ /Ti 3+ in-built redox mediator. A degradation route was predicted on basis of intermediates detected by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry analysis. This work promises to provide future possibilities for rational designing and fabrications of semiconductor heterojunctions for solar environmental applications. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Solar active Fe3 O4 @SrTiO3 /Bi4 O5 I2 heterojunction formed by in-situ hydrothermal route. High performance removal of diclofenac under simulated solar light. Low recombination, high charge transfer capacity and photocurrent response. Fe3 O4 and Ti 4+ /Ti 3+ in-built redox for facile Z-scheme transfer. ● OH and ● O2 − radicals are both active species-High magnetic separation