The improved photocatalytic antibiotic removal performance achieved on Ir/WO2.72 photocatalysts

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Vol. 645; p. 128891
• Main Authors: Liu, Tianyu, Wang, Chongxi, Ding, Chuan, Wang, Wei, Wang, Baojia, Wang, Min, Zhang, Jintao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 20.07.2022
• Subjects: Antibiotic photodegradation; Photocatalysis; WO2.72; Antibiotic photodegradation; WO2.72; Ir; Photocatalysis
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.128891

In this study, a series of Ir/WO2.72 nanoarchitectures were fabricated through solvothermal method. The optimal Ir/WO2.72 exhibits highly photocatalytic activity and stability for antibiotic photodegradation under visible light irradiation (k = 0.0275 min−1 for 2% Ir/WO2.72, 12.5 times higher than that of pristine WO2.72). The electrochemical performance suggests that the Ir/WO2.72 hybrid exhibited superior properties in spatial charge separation and transfer. Moreover, Ir could act as active sites for catalytic reaction and light harvesting. The intrinsic properties of Ir/WO2.72 were tuned and modified based on the characterization results. Besides, the proposed mechanism on Ir/WO2.72 was also discussed to reveal the key factors for the enhancement of photocatalytic performance. We hope this study could supply new insights toward the utilization of antibiotic wastewater treatment on WO2.72-based photocatalysts. [Display omitted] •Ir/WO2.72 nanoarchitectures were prepared successfully through solvothermal method.•The Ir/WO2.72 samples possessed excellent performance in photocatalytic tetracycline (TC) degradation.•The ·OH active species was confirmed to play important roles in Ir/WO2.72 during photocatalysis process.