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Design of 2D–2D NiO/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts for degradation of an emerging pollutant

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Abstract

The release of a large number of antibiotics to the environment has created a shade of sorrow in the scientific community. Herein, two-dimensional (2D)–2D NiO/g-C3N4 photocatalysts were synthesized and applied for the photodegradation of tetracycline hydrochloride antibiotic. This 2D–2D heterojunction catalyst showed effective photoactivity due to the large contact area promoting the interfacial charge transfer rate. The improved photoactivities were attributed to the formation of complete face-to-face heterojunctional channels between two nanosheets of NiO and g-C3N4, which play a major contribution in the transfer of excited charges in the nanocomposite. Besides, the formation of Z-type heterojunction protects the high redox ability of two semiconductors. The photocatalytic activities were high at neutral pH values and decreased when pH values were changed. The photocatalytic activities were also checked in the presence of certain anions such as sulfate, chloride, carbonate), nitrate, and phosphate. Finally, a possible schematic mechanism was planned for charge separation in the nanocomposite.

Graphic abstract

2D-2D NiO/g-C3N4 photocatalysts demonstrate high photocatalytic activity for degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride antibiotic due to the large contact area and Z-scheme heterojunction promoting the interfacial charge transfer rate.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (Ministry of Education) (111 project, B12015), Liaoning Revitalization Talents Program (XLYC1807238), Liaoning BaiQianWan Talents Program, Shenyang Revitalization Talents Program, Open Project Program of the State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment (SKLPEE-201810), Fuzhou University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Catalysis for Energy and Environment, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China

    Kezhen Qi & Qingyang Chen

  2. Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Pakistan

    Amir Zada

  3. College of Physical Science and Technology, Shenyang Normal University, Shenyang, China

    Yang Yang

  4. Research Laboratory of Advanced Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes, Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

    Alireza Khataee

  5. Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Vietnam

    Alireza Khataee

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  1. Kezhen Qi
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  2. Amir Zada
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  3. Yang Yang
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  4. Qingyang Chen
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  5. Alireza Khataee
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Correspondence to Qingyang Chen or Alireza Khataee.

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Qi, K., Zada, A., Yang, Y. et al. Design of 2D–2D NiO/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts for degradation of an emerging pollutant. Res Chem Intermed 46, 5281–5295 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-020-04262-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11164-020-04262-0

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