Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline

Zinc oxide-based photocatalysts with non-toxicity and low cost are promising candidates for the degradation of tetracycline. Despite the great success achieved in constructing n-n-type ZnO-based heterojunctions for the degradation of tetracycline under full-spectrum conditions, it is still challengi...

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Main Authors: Ying Zhang, Xinkang Bo, Tao Zhu, Wei Zhao, Yumin Cui, Jianguo Chang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Nanomaterials
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1802
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author Ying Zhang
Xinkang Bo
Tao Zhu
Wei Zhao
Yumin Cui
Jianguo Chang
author_facet Ying Zhang
Xinkang Bo
Tao Zhu
Wei Zhao
Yumin Cui
Jianguo Chang
author_sort Ying Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Zinc oxide-based photocatalysts with non-toxicity and low cost are promising candidates for the degradation of tetracycline. Despite the great success achieved in constructing n-n-type ZnO-based heterojunctions for the degradation of tetracycline under full-spectrum conditions, it is still challenging to realize rapid and efficient degradation of tetracycline under visible light using n-n-type ZnO-based heterojunctions, as they are constrained by the quick recombination of electron–hole pairs in ZnO. Here, we report highly efficient and stable n-n-type ZnO-TiO<sub>2</sub> heterojunctions under visible light conditions, with a degradation efficiency reaching 97% at 1 h under visible light, which is 1.2 times higher than that of pure zinc oxide, enabled by constructing an n-n-type heterojunction between ZnO and TiO<sub>2</sub> to form a built-in electric field. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of n-n TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO to tetracycline is also proposed in detail. The demonstration of efficient and stable heterojunction-type ZnO photocatalysts under visible light is an important step toward commercialization and opens up new opportunities beyond conventional ZnO technologies, such as composite ZnO catalysts.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2079-4991
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Nanomaterials
spelling doaj-art-d1bb24b347384bfe83108de9941bcd492025-08-20T02:05:07ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912024-11-011422180210.3390/nano14221802Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of TetracyclineYing Zhang0Xinkang Bo1Tao Zhu2Wei Zhao3Yumin Cui4Jianguo Chang5Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Green Carbon Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Material Engineering, Fuyang Normal University, Fuyang 236037, ChinaZinc oxide-based photocatalysts with non-toxicity and low cost are promising candidates for the degradation of tetracycline. Despite the great success achieved in constructing n-n-type ZnO-based heterojunctions for the degradation of tetracycline under full-spectrum conditions, it is still challenging to realize rapid and efficient degradation of tetracycline under visible light using n-n-type ZnO-based heterojunctions, as they are constrained by the quick recombination of electron–hole pairs in ZnO. Here, we report highly efficient and stable n-n-type ZnO-TiO<sub>2</sub> heterojunctions under visible light conditions, with a degradation efficiency reaching 97% at 1 h under visible light, which is 1.2 times higher than that of pure zinc oxide, enabled by constructing an n-n-type heterojunction between ZnO and TiO<sub>2</sub> to form a built-in electric field. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of n-n TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO to tetracycline is also proposed in detail. The demonstration of efficient and stable heterojunction-type ZnO photocatalysts under visible light is an important step toward commercialization and opens up new opportunities beyond conventional ZnO technologies, such as composite ZnO catalysts.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1802ZnOTiO<sub>2</sub>tetracycline removaln-n heterojunctionsphotocatalysis
spellingShingle Ying Zhang
Xinkang Bo
Tao Zhu
Wei Zhao
Yumin Cui
Jianguo Chang
Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
Nanomaterials
ZnO
TiO<sub>2</sub>
tetracycline removal
n-n heterojunctions
photocatalysis
title Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
title_full Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
title_fullStr Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
title_short Synthesis of TiO<sub>2</sub>-ZnO n-n Heterojunction with Excellent Visible Light-Driven Photodegradation of Tetracycline
title_sort synthesis of tio sub 2 sub zno n n heterojunction with excellent visible light driven photodegradation of tetracycline
topic ZnO
TiO<sub>2</sub>
tetracycline removal
n-n heterojunctions
photocatalysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/14/22/1802
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AT taozhu synthesisoftiosub2subznonnheterojunctionwithexcellentvisiblelightdrivenphotodegradationoftetracycline
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