A novel 3D Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst: Ag6Si2O7 anchored on flower-like Bi2WO6 and its excellent photocatalytic performance for the degradation of toxic pharmaceutical antibiotics

The massive consumption and discharge of pharmaceutical antibiotics have driven researchers to explore environment-friendly and effective technology to eliminate them. Herein, a novel flower-like Ag6Si2O7/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with strong redox capability was fabricated via a facile in situ precipitation strategy and then applied to degrade pharmaceutical antibiotics. The as-obtained Ag6Si2O7/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with strong interfacial coupling effects exhibited superior photocatalytic property in comparison with pristine Bi2WO6 and Ag6Si2O7 for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) under visible light. The optimized Ag6Si2O7/Bi2WO6 (ASO/BWO-3) showed the maximum photocatalytic performance, and its rate constant for the degradation of CIP was as high as 0.0217 min−1, exceeding that of pristine Bi2WO6 and Ag6Si2O7 by approximately 14.5- and 9.8-fold, respectively. The trapping experiments and ESR analyses revealed that the principal active species responsible for pollutant removal are h+ and ˙O2− species. The PL analysis and EIS measurements further demonstrated that Ag6Si2O7/Bi2WO6 possesses a high separation rate of photogenerated electrons and holes. Its extraordinary photocatalytic performance is ascribed to the synergistic interactions of the Z-scheme hetero-structure and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of the Ag nanoparticles. Remarkably, a separation reaction system was delicately designed and employed to demonstrate the significance of the direct contact between Ag6Si2O7/Bi2WO6 and contaminants for antibiotic degradation. This research may provide a new design concept for constructing highly efficient and stable Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for treating pharmaceutical wastewater.

[1]  Wei Jiang,et al.  In situ construction of WO3 nanoparticles decorated Bi2MoO6 microspheres for boosting photocatalytic degradation of refractory pollutants. , 2019, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[2]  Chongfeng Guo,et al.  Construction of core-shell structured WO3@SnS2 hetero-junction as a direct Z-scheme photo-catalyst. , 2019, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[3]  Yanyan Zhao,et al.  Highly efficient visible light driven photocatalytic inactivation of E. coli with Ag QDs decorated Z-scheme Bi2S3/SnIn4S8 composite , 2019, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[4]  A. Habibi-Yangjeh,et al.  Fabrication of novel g-C3N4 nanosheet/carbon dots/Ag6Si2O7 nanocomposites with high stability and enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity , 2019, Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers.

[5]  F. Chang,et al.  Ag/AgCl nanoparticles decorated 2D-Bi12O17Cl2 plasmonic composites prepared without exotic chlorine ions with enhanced photocatalytic performance , 2019, Molecular Catalysis.

[6]  A. Mohamed,et al.  Effective steering of charge flow through synergistic inducing oxygen vacancy defects and p-n heterojunctions in 2D/2D surface-engineered Bi2WO6/BiOI cascade: Towards superior photocatalytic CO2 reduction activity , 2019, Chemical Engineering Journal.

[7]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Facile construction of flower-like bismuth oxybromide/bismuth oxide formate p-n heterojunctions with significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light. , 2019, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[8]  N. Zhang,et al.  3D graphene/AgBr/Ag cascade aerogel for efficient photocatalytic disinfection , 2019, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[9]  Jianshe Liu,et al.  In situ anion exchange strategy to construct flower-like BiOCl/BiOCOOH p-n heterojunctions for efficiently photocatalytic removal of aqueous toxic pollutants under solar irradiation , 2019, Journal of Alloys and Compounds.

[10]  Quanjun Xiang,et al.  Surface and interface engineering of hierarchical photocatalysts , 2019, Applied Surface Science.

[11]  G. Zeng,et al.  Ultrathin Bi2WO6 nanosheets loaded g-C3N4 quantum dots: A direct Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity towards degradation of organic pollutants under wide spectrum light irradiation. , 2019, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[12]  J. Xiong,et al.  Defect-assisted surface modification enhances the visible light photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4@C-TiO2 direct Z-scheme heterojunctions , 2019, Chinese Journal of Catalysis.

[13]  Shaobin Wang,et al.  Z-scheme plasmonic Ag decorated WO3/Bi2WO6 hybrids for enhanced photocatalytic abatement of chlorinated-VOCs under solar light irradiation , 2019, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[14]  Guangming Zeng,et al.  Nano-structured bismuth tungstate with controlled morphology: Fabrication, modification, environmental application and mechanism insight , 2019, Chemical Engineering Journal.

[15]  Gang Chen,et al.  In-situ synthesis of Z-scheme Ag2CO3/Ag/AgNCO heterojunction photocatalyst with enhanced stability and photocatalytic activity , 2019, Applied Surface Science.

[16]  Xiaoying Lu,et al.  The facile fabrication of novel visible-light-driven Z-scheme CuInS2/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with intimate interface contact by in situ hydrothermal growth strategy for extraordinary photocatalytic performance , 2019, Chemical Engineering Journal.

[17]  Shih‐Hsin Ho,et al.  Plasmonic-based nanomaterials for environmental remediation , 2018, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[18]  Jiawei Wang,et al.  Novel magnetically retrievable Bi2WO6/magnetic carbon nano-onions composite with enhanced photoactivity under visible light. , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[19]  K. Domen,et al.  Surface Strategies for Particulate Photocatalysts toward Artificial Photosynthesis , 2018, Joule.

[20]  F. Chang,et al.  In-situ establishment of binary composites α-Fe2O3/Bi12O17Cl2 with both photocatalytic and photo-Fenton features. , 2018, Chemosphere.

[21]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Facile synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles decorated flower-like bismuth molybdate for enhanced photocatalytic activity toward organic pollutant degradation. , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[22]  Wenjun Jiang,et al.  Self-assembled perylene diimide based supramolecular heterojunction with Bi2WO6 for efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysis , 2018, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[23]  Kai Jiang,et al.  Ultra-thin Bi2WO6 porous nanosheets with high lattice coherence for enhanced performance for photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI). , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[24]  D. Leung,et al.  A novel 3D plasmonic p-n heterojunction photocatalyst: Ag nanoparticles on flower-like p-Ag2S/n-BiVO4 and its excellent photocatalytic reduction and oxidation activities , 2018, Applied Catalysis B: Environmental.

[25]  Y. Yao,et al.  Enabling Nitrogen Fixation on Bi2WO6 Photocatalyst by c-PAN Surface Decoration , 2018, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering.

[26]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Hierarchical architectures of bismuth molybdate nanosheets onto nickel titanate nanofibers: Facile synthesis and efficient photocatalytic removal of tetracycline hydrochloride. , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[27]  Yi Ji,et al.  Nanomaterials for treating emerging contaminants in water by adsorption and photocatalysis: Systematic review and bibliometric analysis. , 2018, The Science of the total environment.

[28]  Guangming Zeng,et al.  Facile Hydrothermal Synthesis of Z-Scheme Bi2Fe4O9/Bi2WO6 Heterojunction Photocatalyst with Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity. , 2018, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[29]  Xin Zhang,et al.  Computational Screening of 2D Materials and Rational Design of Heterojunctions for Water Splitting Photocatalysts , 2018 .

[30]  Rong Ye,et al.  Foundations and strategies of the construction of hybrid catalysts for optimized performances , 2018, Nature Catalysis.

[31]  Yanyan Zhao,et al.  Bi 2 WO 6 nanoflowers: An efficient visible light photocatalytic activity for ceftriaxone sodium degradation , 2018 .

[32]  Chuanping Feng,et al.  Synthesis of a novel narrow-band-gap iron(II,III) oxide/titania/silver silicate nanocomposite as a highly efficient and stable visible light-driven photocatalyst. , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[33]  J. Q. Bond,et al.  Influence of vanadate structure and support identity on catalytic activity in the oxidative cleavage of methyl ketones , 2018 .

[34]  G. Zeng,et al.  0D/2D interface engineering of carbon quantum dots modified Bi2WO6 ultrathin nanosheets with enhanced photoactivity for full spectrum light utilization and mechanism insight , 2018 .

[35]  T. Majima,et al.  Z-Scheme Photocatalytic Water Splitting on a 2D Heterostructure of Black Phosphorus/Bismuth Vanadate Using Visible Light. , 2018, Angewandte Chemie.

[36]  Peng Liu,et al.  Three-dimensional Ag2O/Bi5O7I p-n heterojunction photocatalyst harnessing UV-vis-NIR broad spectrum for photodegradation of organic pollutants. , 2018, Journal of hazardous materials.

[37]  F. Chang,et al.  A visible-light-driven heterojuncted composite WO3/Bi12O17Cl2: Synthesis, characterization, and improved photocatalytic performance. , 2018, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[38]  Dandan Zhou,et al.  An environmentally friendly Z-scheme WO 3 /CDots/CdS heterostructure with remarkable photocatalytic activity and anti-photocorrosion performance , 2017 .

[39]  Wei Wu,et al.  Full-spectrum-activated Z-scheme photocatalysts based on NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+, TiO2 and Ag6Si2O7 , 2017 .

[40]  Xiaolong Deng,et al.  In-situ synthesis of amorphous silver silicate/carbonate composites for selective visible-light photocatalytic decomposition , 2017, Scientific Reports.

[41]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Construction of fiber-shaped silver oxide/tantalum nitride p-n heterojunctions as highly efficient visible-light-driven photocatalysts. , 2017, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[42]  A. Goonetilleke,et al.  Treatment Technologies for Emerging Contaminants in water: A review , 2017 .

[43]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Facile synthesis of flower-like Ag3VO4/Bi2WO6 heterojunction with enhanced visible-light photocatalytic activity. , 2017, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[44]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Synthesis of n-type TaON microspheres decorated by p-type Ag2O with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity , 2017 .

[45]  Wei Jiang,et al.  Facile synthesis of Fe(2)O(3) nanoparticles anchored on Bi(2)MoO(6) microflowers with improved visible light photocatalytic activity. , 2017, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[46]  Jun Pan,et al.  Photocorrosion inhibition and high-efficiency photoactivity of porous g-C3N4/Ag2CrO4 composites by simple microemulsion-assisted co-precipitation method , 2017 .

[47]  Zhenyi Zhang,et al.  A Nonmetal Plasmonic Z‐Scheme Photocatalyst with UV‐ to NIR‐Driven Photocatalytic Protons Reduction , 2017, Advanced materials.

[48]  Zhongzhen Yu,et al.  Silver Silicate@Carbon Nanotube Nanocomposites for Enhanced Visible Light Photodegradation Performance , 2017 .

[49]  Mietek Jaroniec,et al.  Heterojunction Photocatalysts , 2017, Advanced materials.

[50]  T. Hayat,et al.  Hybrid 0D-2D Nanoheterostructures: In Situ Growth of Amorphous Silver Silicates Dots on g-C3N4 Nanosheets for Full-Spectrum Photocatalysis. , 2016, ACS applied materials & interfaces.

[51]  Zhen Ma,et al.  Flower-like Ag2O/Bi2MoO6 p-n heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation , 2016 .

[52]  Wei Wu,et al.  Anchoring of Ag6Si2O7 nanoparticles on α-Fe2O3 short nanotubes as a Z-scheme photocatalyst for improving their photocatalytic performances. , 2016, Dalton transactions.

[53]  Xubiao Luo,et al.  Fabrication of novel heterostructured few layered WS2-Bi2WO6/Bi3.84W0.16O6.24 composites with enhanced photocatalytic performance , 2015 .

[54]  J. Sorensen,et al.  Emerging contaminants in urban groundwater sources in Africa. , 2015, Water research.

[55]  B. Kasprzyk-Hordern,et al.  A review on emerging contaminants in wastewaters and the environment: current knowledge, understudied areas and recommendations for future monitoring. , 2015, Water research.

[56]  M. Servos,et al.  Distribution of selected antiandrogens and pharmaceuticals in a highly impacted watershed. , 2015, Water research.

[57]  Zeyan Wang,et al.  Ag6Si2O7: a Silicate Photocatalyst for the Visible Region , 2014 .

[58]  Rujia Zou,et al.  Surface decoration of Bi2WO6 superstructures with Bi2O3 nanoparticles: an efficient method to improve visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity , 2013 .

[59]  Jincai Zhao,et al.  AgBr-Ag-Bi2WO6 nanojunction system: A novel and efficient photocatalyst with double visible-light active components , 2009 .