Fluorinated inverse opal carbon nitride combined with vanadium pentoxide as a Z-scheme photocatalyst with enhanced photocatalytic activity

In this work, Z-scheme V2O5 loaded fluorinated inverse opal carbon nitride (IO F-CN/V2O5) was synthesized as a product of ternary collaborative modification with heterostructure construction, element doping and inverse opal structure. The catalyst presented the highest photocatalytic activity and rate constant for degradation of typical organic pollutants Rhodamine B (RhB) and was also used for the efficient removal of antibiotics, represented by norfloxacin (NOR), sulfadiazine (SD) and levofloxacin (LVX). Characterizations confirmed its increased specific surface area, narrowed bandgap, and enhanced visible light utilization capacity. Further mechanism study including band structure study and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) proved the successful construction of Z-scheme heterojunction, which improved photo-generated charge carrier migration and provide sufficient free radicals for the degradation process. The combination of different modifications contributed to the synergetic improvement of removal efficiency towards different organic pollutants. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

In this study, Z-scheme V2O5-loaded fluorinated inverse opal carbon nitride was successfully synthesized using a ternary collaborative modification approach. The catalyst exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity and rate constant for the degradation of organic pollutants and was also effective in removing antibiotics. The improved performance of the catalyst was attributed to its increased specific surface area, narrowed bandgap, and enhanced visible light utilization capacity. Mechanism studies confirmed the formation of a Z-scheme heterojunction, which promoted the migration of photo-generated charge carriers and provided sufficient free radicals for the degradation process. The combination of different modifications synergistically enhanced the removal efficiency for different organic pollutants.