Photocatalytic Removal of Antibiotics on g-C3N4 Using Amorphous CuO as Cocatalysts

Front Chem. 2021 Dec 8:9:797738. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2021.797738. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Amorphous CuO is considered as an excellent cocatalyst, owing to its large surface area and superior conductivity compared with its crystalline counterpart. The current work demonstrates a facile method to prepare amorphous CuO, which is grown on the surface of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and is then applied for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride. The prepared CuO/g-C3N4 composite shows higher photocatalytic activities compared with bare g-C3N4. Efficient charge transfer between g-C3N4 and CuO is confirmed by the photocurrent response spectra and photoluminescence spectra. This work provides a facile approach to prepare low-cost composites for the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics to safeguard the environment.

Keywords: amorphous CuO; cocatalysts; g-C3N4; photocatalytic degradation; tetracycline hydrochloride.