Effective promotion of g–C3N4 photocatalytic performance via surface oxygen vacancy and coupling with bismuth-based semiconductors towards antibiotics degradation. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hasanvandian, Farzad; Moradi, Mohsen; Aghaebrahimi Samani, Sina; Kakavandi, Babak; Rahman Setayesh, Shahrbanoo; Noorisepehr, Mohammad
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 287:Part 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Surface oxygen vacancy -- Ultra-wrinkled g–C3N4 -- Levofloxacin -- Degradation mechanism -- Photocatalytic process; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132273
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: In this research, the potential of bismuth chromate (BCO), a new bismuth-based semiconductor belongs to the family of Bi2 XO6 (X = Mo, W, or Cr), was introduced by a novel 1D/2D structure consist of BCO nanobelts and N2 -freezed ultra-wrinkled graphitic carbon nitride (N–CN) nanosheets. To enhance intimate contact between BCO and N–CN (BCO/N–CN composite), surface oxygen vacancy (VO ) was created as an efficient electron transfer highway using a simple alkaline-treatment-assisted method. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, FT-IR, EPR, FE-SEM, TEM, BET, DRS, PL, EIS, and photocurrent transient analyses were conducted to elucidate the physicochemical aspects of catalysts. The synthesized catalysts were subjected to levofloxacin (LVFX) photodegradation and optimum conditions were found under LED irradiation. Under optimum conditions, about 92.5% of LVFX was catalytically degraded over VO -rich BCO/N–CN heterojunction after 120 min of reaction, which was 2.3 folds higher than that of VO -free composite. The obtained heterojunction maintained superior performance after five consecutive runs with no noticeable changes in the XRD and FT-IR patterns, demonstrating the high stability of synthesized nanocomposite. Thus, the proposed interfacial engineering in this study opens new insight for ameliorating the insufficient interfacial contact between components of heterojunctions. This study not only presents a new bismuth-based photocatalyst for antibiotic degradation but also sheds light on the charge migration behavior in favor of efficient Z-type heterojunction. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The rational 1D/2D configuration of VO -Bi2 CrO6 /g–C3 N4 was designed successfully. The introduction of interfacial engineering was obtained using the simple alkaline-treatment-assisted method. The photocatalytic activity of VO -rich Bi2 CrO6 /g–C3 N4 heterojunction was 2.3 folds higher than that of VO -free composite. The outstanding performance of VO -Bi2 CrO6 /g–C3 N4 was achieved about 92.5% for levofloxacin photodegradation.