S-scheme 2D/2D FeTiO3/g-C3N4 hybrid architectures as visible-light-driven photo-Fenton catalysts for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation

• Published in: Separation and purification technology Vol. 303; p. 122266
• Main Authors: Xu, Chen-Xiao, Kong, Yu-Lu, Zhang, Wen-Jie, Yang, Mei-Ding, Wang, Kai, Chang, Ling, Chen, Wei, Huang, Guo-Bo, Zhang, Jian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15.12.2022
• Subjects: FeTiO3; g-C3N4; photo-Fenton; S-scheme; g-C3N4; FeTiO3; photo-Fenton; S-scheme
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122266

•S-scheme FeTiO3/g-C3N4 was successfully prepared by self-assembly.•Photo-Fenton catalytic activity of FeTiO3/g-C3N4 for TCH removal was tested.•S-scheme photo-Fenton catalytic mechanism is well verified.•FeTiO3/g-C3N4 material exhibited good catalytic stability and reusability. Fabricating highly active and stable hybrid catalytic systems for pollutant degradation is challenging. Herein, we manufactured a series of FeTiO3/g-C3N4 hybrid architectures via self-assembly and used them as efficient visible-light-driven photo-Fenton catalysts for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation. The FeTiO3/g-C3N4 hybrid architecture with optimal photo-Fenton activity, which was synthesized by combining 200 mg of FeTiO3 with 1200 mg of g-C3N4, exhibited excellent recyclability for five photo-Fenton cycles. The catalytic mechanism of the photo-Fenton reaction over FeTiO3/g-C3N4 hybrid architectures was investigated by scavenging the active species generated during the reaction and analyzing the electronic paramagnetic resonance spectra of the reaction mixtures. The remarkable photo-Fenton activity of FeTiO3/g-C3N4 hybrid architectures was ascribed to the S-scheme charge transfer pathway generated via the construction of intimate interfacial contacts between FeTiO3 nanoplates and g-C3N4 nanosheets. We believe this study provides some useful insights into the design and fabrication of S-scheme photo-Fenton catalysts for environmental remediation.