Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight
TiO<sub>2</sub> has broad prospects in reducing the safety risks posed by emerging pollutants in water environments. However, the high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers limits the activity and photon utilization efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub>. In this study, mesopo...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Lizhe Ma Zhiyong Fang Jieli Duan Jin Li Kefu Zhu Yinlong Jiang Bang Ji Zhou Yang |
| author_facet | Lizhe Ma Zhiyong Fang Jieli Duan Jin Li Kefu Zhu Yinlong Jiang Bang Ji Zhou Yang |
| author_sort | Lizhe Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | TiO<sub>2</sub> has broad prospects in reducing the safety risks posed by emerging pollutants in water environments. However, the high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers limits the activity and photon utilization efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub>. In this study, mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> (m-TiO<sub>2</sub>) and ultra-thin g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanosheets were composited using a hydrothermal method, with the m-TiO<sub>2</sub> tightly and uniformly wrapped by g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. The chemical structure, elemental composition, and optical properties of the heterojunction were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS). The activity of the m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Results showed that the heterojunction exhibited significantly enhanced reactivity compared to pure m-TiO<sub>2</sub> and g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, with kinetic rates of TCH being 1.48 and 6.84 times that of pure m-TiO<sub>2</sub> and g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, respectively. The TCH degradation kinetic rate varied from 0.194 min<sup>−1</sup> to 0.026 min<sup>−1</sup> and then decreased to 0.015 min<sup>−1</sup> on the scale of the bandgap and the number of absorbed photons in m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. Concurrently, a 10wt% doping amount of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> significantly increased the reaction rate of photogenerated carriers in the system compared to the recombination rate, corresponding to excellent photon efficiency. Reproducibility was evaluated, and a possible degradation mechanism is proposed. This study opens new perspectives for the optimization of catalyst preparation processes aimed at enhancing photon efficiency. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0c72a8fbcfb34bef85f12f3ef7c95ed52024-12-27T14:42:50ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012924598110.3390/molecules29245981Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum SunlightLizhe Ma0Zhiyong Fang1Jieli Duan2Jin Li3Kefu Zhu4Yinlong Jiang5Bang Ji6Zhou Yang7College of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaSchool of Intelligent Engineering, Shaoguan University, Shaoguan 512005, ChinaCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, ChinaCollege of Engineering, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, ChinaTiO<sub>2</sub> has broad prospects in reducing the safety risks posed by emerging pollutants in water environments. However, the high recombination rate of photogenerated carriers limits the activity and photon utilization efficiency of TiO<sub>2</sub>. In this study, mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub> (m-TiO<sub>2</sub>) and ultra-thin g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> nanosheets were composited using a hydrothermal method, with the m-TiO<sub>2</sub> tightly and uniformly wrapped by g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. The chemical structure, elemental composition, and optical properties of the heterojunction were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis-DRS). The activity of the m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> was evaluated by the degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Results showed that the heterojunction exhibited significantly enhanced reactivity compared to pure m-TiO<sub>2</sub> and g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, with kinetic rates of TCH being 1.48 and 6.84 times that of pure m-TiO<sub>2</sub> and g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>, respectively. The TCH degradation kinetic rate varied from 0.194 min<sup>−1</sup> to 0.026 min<sup>−1</sup> and then decreased to 0.015 min<sup>−1</sup> on the scale of the bandgap and the number of absorbed photons in m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. Concurrently, a 10wt% doping amount of g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> significantly increased the reaction rate of photogenerated carriers in the system compared to the recombination rate, corresponding to excellent photon efficiency. Reproducibility was evaluated, and a possible degradation mechanism is proposed. This study opens new perspectives for the optimization of catalyst preparation processes aimed at enhancing photon efficiency.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5981photocatalyticantibioticm-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>photonic efficiency |
| spellingShingle | Lizhe Ma Zhiyong Fang Jieli Duan Jin Li Kefu Zhu Yinlong Jiang Bang Ji Zhou Yang Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight Molecules photocatalytic antibiotic m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photonic efficiency |
| title | Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight |
| title_full | Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight |
| title_fullStr | Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight |
| title_short | Mesoporous TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> Nanostructure-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline Under Full-Spectrum Sunlight |
| title_sort | mesoporous tio sub 2 sub g c sub 3 sub n sub 4 sub nanostructure enhanced photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline under full spectrum sunlight |
| topic | photocatalytic antibiotic m-TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> photonic efficiency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5981 |
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