Mechanism (biology)

Quantum mechanics

Scheme (mathematics)

Engineering

Photochemistry

Materials science

Nuclear magnetic resonance

Pollutant

Telecommunications

Biochemistry

Computer science

Electron transfer

Decomposition

Electron paramagnetic resonance

Chemical engineering

Physics

Organic chemistry

Mathematics

Degradation (telecommunications)

Doping

Antibiotics

Mathematical analysis

Radical

Heterojunction

Chemistry

Tetracycline

Optoelectronics

Applied Catalysis B Environment and Energy

Herein, Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 Z-scheme heterojunction is elaborately designed to build a photo-Fenton system for the degradation of tetracycline (TC). In this study, the H2O2 decomposition performance of the Z-scheme heterojunction has been improved due to the doping of iron, improve photogenerated electrons transportability and facilitate spread of radicals, according to the efficacy analyses, and trapping experiment, ESR analysis as well as degradation pathways of TC. Moreover, DFT theoretical results suggest that the Z-scheme transfer route coupled with the generated photo–Fenton process builds a Z-scheme-charge-transfer platform for remarkable degradation of emerging pollutants, and the formation of Fe-N4 sites induces a spin polarization of the material and also introduces a defect state in the original forbidden band, which leads to extremely activity for the removal of TC in the photo-Fenton system. The study shows that 1O2 and •O2− are the main active species participating in the degradation process.

Photo-Fenton degradation of tetracycline over Z-scheme Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2WO6 heterojunctions: Mechanism insight, degradation pathways and DFT calculation