Facile microwave synthesis of a Z-scheme imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT with the specific recognition ability towards improving photocatalytic activity and selectivity for tetracycline

The Z-scheme imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT was synthesized by the microwave polymerization method and surface imprinting technique, which possessed good partial hollow spherical structure, good light response ability, good magnetic separation performance, good photocatalytic stability and reproducibility. More importantly, due to the introduction of Ag/PEDOT into the surface imprinted layer, Z-scheme structure was formed to enhance the photocatalytic activity based on Ag acted as the mediator, meanwhile, owing to the existence of the imprinted cavity in the surface imprinted layer, the selectivity had been significantly improved, in a word, the as-prepared Z-scheme imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT achieved the goal for simultaneously improving the photocatalytic activity and selectivity. Z-scheme imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT possessed the highest photo-degradation rate (71.77%) for degradation of tetracycline under the simulated sunlight irradiation of 120 min, which was approximately 4.74 times to that of ZnFe2O4, 1.42 times to that of Ag/PEDOT and 1.31 times to that of non-imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT, respectively. And the coefficient of selectivity of Z-scheme imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT relative to ZnFe2O4, Ag/PEDOT, non-imprinted ZnFe2O4/Ag/PEDOT was 1.84, 1.82, 1.79 in the single antibiotic solution and 1.78, 1.75, 1.67 in the binary antibiotic solution, respectively. This work provided a new synthesis strategy for the imprinted photocatalysts and also provided a new idea for the treatment of specific pollutants in the water environment.