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Two-dimensional RGO-bridge S-scheme phosphorus-doped g-C3N4/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions for efficient visible-light photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical wastewater

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Abstract

The design of van der Waals heterojunctions with S-scheme charge transfer pathway is expected to be an effective strategy for improvement of photocatalytic performance. Herein, two-dimensional (2D) phosphorus-doped g-C3N4/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions with reduced graphene oxide as electron bridge (PCN/RGO/Bi5O7I) were successfully synthesized via hydrothermal method. The van der Waals interaction endowed 2D PCN/RGO/Bi5O7I with intimate contact interface, lattice match, tunable band structure, and internal electric field, which efficiently promoted interfacial charge separation and enhanced redox ability of photogenerated charge carriers. As a result, the S-scheme PCN/RGO/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions exhibited superior photocatalytic performance in ciprofloxacin degradation and real pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. The optimized 12% PCN/RGO/Bi5O7I displayed the highest photocatalytic activity with 92% removal of ciprofloxacin. Importantly, the COD removal efficiency and extent of mineralization of real pharmaceutical wastewater reached 66.9% and 59.8%, respectively, and the biodegradability of pharmaceutical wastewater was significantly improved. The photocatalytic mechanism of the S-scheme PCN/RGO/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions based on the analysis of reactive species, work function, and internal electric field was presented. This study provides fresh insights into plausible design of S-scheme van der Waals heterojunction to enhance photocatalytic redox ability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Heavy Metal Pollutants Control and Resource Utilization, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang, 330063, China

    ZhenZhou Wang, XiWei Xu, Fang Deng, XiBao Li, JunLong Peng, XuBiao Luo, JianPing Zou & ShengLian Luo

  2. Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (DChEE), University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, 45221-0012, USA

    Dionysios D. Dionysiou

Authors
  1. ZhenZhou Wang
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  2. XiWei Xu
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  3. Fang Deng
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  4. Dionysios D. Dionysiou
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  5. XiBao Li
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  7. XuBiao Luo
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  9. ShengLian Luo
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Correspondence to Fang Deng or ShengLian Luo.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51978324, 51720105001, and 51962023), the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province (Grant Nos. 20213BCJL22053, 20192ACBL20043, and 20212BAB204045), the Department of Education Fund of Jiangxi Province (Grant No. GJJ210913), and Graduate Innovation Fund (Grant No. YC2021-011).

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Two-dimensional RGO-bridge S-scheme phosphorus-doped g-C3N4/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions for efficient visible-light photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical wastewater

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Wang, Z., Xu, X., Deng, F. et al. Two-dimensional RGO-bridge S-scheme phosphorus-doped g-C3N4/Bi5O7I van der Waals heterojunctions for efficient visible-light photocatalytic treatment of real pharmaceutical wastewater. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 66, 3011–3024 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-023-2429-8

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