Synthesis of WO3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction with novel photocatalytic activity for degradation of residual antibiotics in aquatic environment under visible light

Abstract

In the research, we successfully synthesized WO₃/g-C₃N₄ Z-scheme heterojunction for photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline. These synthesized materials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR Spectroscopy), to investigate their crystal phase, morphology and chemical compositions. The synthesized WO₃/g-C₃N₄ Z-scheme heterojunction exhibited novel photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Tetracyline even under visible light. This was due to photo-excited electrons in the conduction band of WO₃ transferred to the valence band of the g-C₃N₄ preserving electrons in the conduction band of the g-C₃N₄ and holes in the valence band of WO₃. These electrons and holes would react with oxygen and water to produce oxidative radicals for effective degradation of Tetracycline. The synthesized WO₃/g-C₃N₄ photocatalytically degraded approximately 56 % Tetracycline 10 ppm when it was irradiated by visible light of 32 W for 90 mins.