S-Scheme α-Fe₂O₃/g-C₃N₄ Nanocomposites as Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Antibiotic Degradation

Abstract

The residue of antibiotics in the water has led to increased antibiotic-resistant bacteria, harm to human health, and damage to health-beneficial healthy bacteria. An idea of constructing S-scheme α-Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocomposites is studied toward a photocatalysis application for an efficient resolution of commercial antibiotics in wastewater. Outstanding S-scheme Fe2O3/g-C3N4 nanocatalysts are synthesized by a straightforward method and could easily improve the recycling property, thanks to magnetic materials. Empirical results indicate that S-scheme Fe2O3/g-C3N4 photocatalysts can degrade commercial cefalexin and amoxicillin (20 mg L–1) under visible light, with five and nine times higher performance than that of g-C3N4, respectively. Furthermore, the detailed evidence to propose S-scheme Fe2O3/g-C3N4 heterojunctions and comparison of photocatalytic performance in antibiotic degradation have also been mentioned in this study.