Degradation evolution of tetracycline-HCl/Fluoroquinolones and CO2 reduction over novel Z-scheme NCQDs-black NiO/Bi7O9I3 mesopores nanosheet heterojunction

The novel mesopores nanosheet Z-scheme NCQDs-BNiO/Bi7O9I3 (NCQDs: nitrogen doped carbon quantum dots & BNiO: black nickel oxide) heterojunction nanophotocatalyst has been synthesized by the facile sonosolvothermal method in order to remove antibiotic/fluoroquinolones and solid/liquid phase photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under the irradiation of simulated solar light. Several analyzes, have been performed to investigate the physical, chemical and optical properties of the synthesized photocatalysts. Raman analysis of NCQDs-BNiO/Bi7O9I3 sample shows the increase of structural defects which is the result of the presence of NCQDs in the structure of this sample. The characteristics of the pore volume, surface area and pore diameter of the optimal photocatalyst have been estimated at about 0.209 cm3/g, 44.6 m2/g and 18.8 nm, respectively. The UV-vis DRS analysis indicated the increase in optical absorption range and two absorption edges (373.7 and 526.4 nm). Pharmaceutical pollutants like tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), ofloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were removed by the photocatalytic degradation process in the order of 81.6%, 73.6%, 73.4% and 71.5%, respectively by NCQDs-BNiO/Bi7O9I3 photocatalyst which it can be asserted because of efficacious happening of surface reactions, facilitation of mass transfer and surface adsorption, which shows the key effect of the created structural model and the usage of ultrasound waves. At the end the photoreduction activity of the quintessential photocatalyst was evaluated which could produce 43.437 mu mol/gcatalyst methanol after 8 h.

Automated summary

A novel mesoporous nanosheet Z-scheme NCQDs-BNiO/Bi7O9I3 heterojunction nanophotocatalyst has been synthesized by the facile sonosolvothermal method and demonstrated its efficient removal of antibiotic/fluoroquinolones and solid/liquid phase photocatalytic reduction of CO2 under simulated solar light. The synthesized photocatalysts exhibit increased structural defects, enhanced optical absorption and excellent pharmaceutical pollutant removal efficiency, attributed to the efficient surface reactions, mass transfer facilitation and surface adsorption, as well as the utilization of ultrasound waves. The quintessential photocatalyst shows significant photoreduction activity in producing methanol.