An all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst for effective degradation of carbofuran under sunlight irradiation

It is first reported that an all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 nanocomposite photocatalyst can be prepared by ultrasonic dispersion and calcination methods. In NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4, NaNbO(3)( )and Sn3O4 form a Zscheme photocatalytic system, Au as an electron transfer channel accelerates the flow rate of the photo-induced electrons. Their effective combination can not only improve the utilization ratio of sunlight but also achieve the effective segregation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. The fabricated samples were characterized by XRD, Raman spectra, SEM, TEM, UV-vis DRS, XPS and PL. In addition, the activity of the NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst was researched via the photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran in wastewater under sunlight irradiation. The sunlight illumination time, NaNbO3 and Sn3O4 mole ratio, cycle number and pesticides types as influence factors on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst are investigated in detail. The possible mechanism and degradation pathways for the photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran caused by Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst under sunlight irradiation are put forward. The research results show that the all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst displays a wonderful activity for degradation of carbofuran in wastewater.