Novel N-ZnO/p-BN adsorption-photocatalytic composites with interfacial bonding for efficient synergistic degradation of pollutants in water

• Published in: Applied surface science Vol. 677; p. 161060
• Main Authors: Cai, Huayi, Zhang, Hui, Gao, Nan, Fang, Yi, Xie, Xinjian, Fang, Yulong, Chen, Guifeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 21.12.2024
• Subjects: Heterojunction; Oxytetracycline; Photocatalytic; Porous boron nitride; Zinc oxide; Oxytetracycline; Photocatalytic; Zinc oxide; Porous boron nitride; Heterojunction
• ISSN: 0169-4332
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2024.161060

A novel adsorption-photocatalytic composite (N-ZnO/p-BN) with interfacial bonding cooperation was successfully prepared for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. [Display omitted] •Novel N-ZnO/p-BN composites were synthesized and applied to photocatalytic degradation of water pollutants.•The built-in electric field generated by interfacial bonding can promote the separation of photogenerated carriers.•The novel adsorption-photocatalyst has the advantages of low dosage and high degradable concentration. Exploring green methods for removing organic pollutants from water bodies has attracted significant attention. In this research, N-ZnO/p-BN adsorption-photocatalytic composites were prepared by a simple solvothermal method, and various analytical characterizations confirmed the formation of B-O-Zn bonds at the heterojunction interface that facilitated the separation of photogenerated carriers and revealed a type-II mechanism of charge transfer in the heterostructure. The photodegradation efficiency for oxytetracycline (OTC) by composites with different N-ZnO loadings was investigated under simulated sunlight, and the degradation efficiency of the optimal sample (50 wt% N-ZnO/p-BN) for 50 mg/L OTC reached 92.2 % at 120 min. Efficient pollutant enrichment, broadened light absorption range, high dispersion of the photocatalysts, and effective charge migration are all important factors for improving photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, the photocatalytic process was further investigated, experiments showed that the N-ZnO/p-BN composites were universally applicable under a variety of conditions and possessed the characteristics of low dosage and high degradable concentration. Finally, a rational photocatalytic mechanism was proposed for the degradation system and the degradation pathways of the main degradation model OTC were analyzed and deduced. Therefore, this study provides new ideas for designing high-performance adsorption-photocatalytic composites.