Fabrication of Fe2O3/g-C3N4@N-TiO2 photocatalyst nanotube arrays that promote bisphenol A photodegradation under simulated sunlight irradiation

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical. Because BPA cannot be completely degraded by traditional sewage treatment plants, alternative technology is urgently needed. Photocatalytic degradation using sunlight is attractive due to its efficiency, low cost, and environmental friendliness. In this study, a photocatalyst, Fe2O3/g-C3N4@N-TNA, was synthesized by doping with N and loading Fe2O3 and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) onto TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs). The morphology and structure of this catalyst were investigated. Fe2O3/g-C3N4@N-TNA has a band gap of 2.15 eV. This photocatalyst can completely degrade BPA (4.5 mg/L) in 40 min and follows pseudofirst order kinetics. Furthermore, hydroxyl radicals ((OH)-O-center dot) are the key to BPA degradation. The (OH)-O-center dot concentration generated by this photocatalytic system reached 0.4 mu mol/L after 60 min under simulated sunlight irradiation. The photocatalyst Fe2O3/g-C3N4@N-TNA could be an alternative for BPA degradation.