High efficient catalytic degradation of tetracycline and ibuprofen using visible light driven novel Cu/Bi2Ti2O7/rGO nanocomposite: Kinetics, intermediates and mechanism

The photoexcited charge carriers trapping was an effective way to generate a large number of active species like O-2(center dot-) and (OH)-O-center dot radicals to oxidize pharmaceutical molecules. In ternary Cu/Bi2Ti2O7/rGO composite Cu nanoparticles and rGO sheets act as charge carrier trappers and the suppression of e(-)-h(+) pair recombination was confirmed by Photoluminescence analysis. The Cu/Bi2Ti2O7/rGO composite exhibited higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency for degradation of ibuprofen and tetracycline molecules under visible light irradiation within 90 min. Therefore, this research designates a promising strategy for higher photoexcited charge carrier trapping photocatalyst design for efficient degradation of pharmaceutical molecules. (C) 2019 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.