Constructing Z-Scheme ZIF-67/Bi2O3 heterojunction: a superior photocatalyst for doxycycline degradation
摘要
Antibiotic resistant microbes and toxic antibiotic effluents pose a hazard to world health. Designing and constructing of a heterostructure materials for the improvement of the photocatalytic performance through redox ability requires a considerable effort while addressing the removal of antibiotics from waste water. To address this issue, a direct Z-scheme heterostructure composite ZIF-67/Bi2O3 has been developed by using the hydrothermal technique. The optimized composite ZIF-67/Bi2O3 has been utilized for the effective photo degradation of doxycycline under visible light. The composite was characterised with various techniques such as XRD, FTIR, XPS, SEM, UV-DRS, and electrochemical parameters. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) evaluates charge transfer stability and efficiency, whereas Cyclic voltammetry (CV) provides information on surface electrochemical activity and redox behaviour. According to EIS, the ZIF-67/Bi2O3 nanocomposite had the lowest charge transfer resistance (Rct) of all the materials examined. The ZIF-67/Bi2O3 composite shows the best performance towards the doxycycline degradation due to the better channelization of charge carriers through of Z-scheme mechanistic pathway. The quicker electron transport and more effective charge separation at the electrode-electrolyte interface promotes the photocatalytic transformation of doxycycline to different by-products and finally mineralized to CO2 and H2O.The sustainability of ZIF-67/Bi2O3 composite is demonstrated by testing its recyclability for five consecutive cycles.