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Journal article
Trigger efficient peroxydisulfate-assisted photocatalysis by S-scheme Co3O4/BiOCl heterojunctions: vital roles of Co2+/Co3+ redox centers and oxygen vacancies
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Vol.13(6), 119195
2025
Abstract
Persulfate-assisted photocatalysis (PA-PC) has been considered as an efficient technique for wastewater treatment. However, regulating interfacial charge transfer and radical/non-radical active species in the reaction system is still a challenge. This study successfully decorated Co3O4 nanoparticles on BiOCl flower-like microspheres via a simple solution method, forming S-scheme Co3O4/BiOCl heterojunctions with enriched oxygen vacancies (OVs) for highly efficient PA-PC of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). After exposure to 18-min visible light illumination in the presence of peroxydisulfate (PDS) (namely the BOC-5/PDS/Vis system), the optimized catalyst, BOC-5, reached a TC degradation of 92.3% and a total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 66.2%, outperforming many reported catalysts in the literature. Common anions (Cl−, CO32−, NO3−) and cations (Zn²⁺) showed negligible interference on the performance of BOC-5/PDS/Vis system, demonstrating its excellent anti-interference capability. Such system was also proven with a broad pH adaptability in the range of 3.0 – 11.0. Cycling tests confirmed the outstanding stability of BOC-5, while toxicity assessments revealed significantly reduced ecological toxicity of intermediates in comparison with TC. The construction of S-scheme Co3O4/BiOCl heterojunctions with intimate 0D/2D interfacial contact markedly promoted charge carrier separation efficiency. The photogenerated electron (e–) enabled the reduction of Co3+ to Co2+, accelerating the Co2+/Co3+ redox cycle to facilitate e– transfer for PDS activation. The OVs improved light absorption and induced generation of more superoxide radicals (•O2−) as the dominant active species. These along with singlet oxygen (1O2) boosted the degradation efficiency of TC. Our research presented efficient interfacial and defect engineering strategies for the design of heterojunctions aiming at antibiotic removal from wastewater through PA-PC.
Details
- Title
- Trigger efficient peroxydisulfate-assisted photocatalysis by S-scheme Co3O4/BiOCl heterojunctions: vital roles of Co2+/Co3+ redox centers and oxygen vacancies
- Authors/Creators
- Chang-Bin YuChong XuLin He - Jiangxi University of Science and TechnologyWei-Ya Huang - Jiangxi University of Science and TechnologyKai Yang - Jiangxi University of Science and TechnologyLinda Li
- Publication Details
- Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, Vol.13(6), 119195
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.
- Identifiers
- 991005809949507891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Engineering and Energy; Centre for Water, Energy and Waste
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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