Ag-modified S-scheme Bi2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunction for visible-light photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin
摘要
A ternary Ag/Bi2O3/g-C3N4 (Ag/BO/CN) photocatalyst was fabricated through a combined solvothermal and photochemical reduction approach for the degradation of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CIP). Upon illumination with simulated sunlight, the optimized Ag/BO/CN composite efficiently degraded CIP, resulting in near-complete (98.14%) removal within 100 min. This remarkable property is attributed to a synergetic interaction between the Ag surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect and the S-scheme heterojunction (between BO and CN). In-situ XPS analysis and work function (Φ) calculations confirmed the S-scheme charge migration pathway. In this scheme, an internal electric field (IEF) prompts the reunification of less-reactive charge carriers, thereby selectively retaining the highly reductive electrons (e−) in the conduction band (CB) of CN and the strongly oxidative holes (h+) in the valence band (VB) of BO. Quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy identified superoxide radicals (·O2−) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) as the primary reactive intermediates. Moreover, the catalyst shows considerable promise for practical deployment, as evidenced by its excellent stability over four consecutive cycles and sustained degradation performance across various real water systems.
Graphical abstract