An all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO3-Au-Sn3O4 photocatalyst for effective degradation of carbofuran under sunlight irradiation

It is first reported that an all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 nanocomposite photocatalyst can be prepared by ultrasonic dispersion and calcination methods. In NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 , NaNbO 3 and Sn 3 O 4 form a Z-scheme photocatalytic system, Au as an electron transfer channel accelerates the flow rate of the photo-induced electrons. Their effective combination can not only improve the utilization ratio of sunlight but also achieve the effective segregation of photo-induced electron-hole pairs. The fabricated samples were characterized by XRD, Raman spectra, SEM, TEM, UV–vis DRS, XPS and PL. In addition, the activity of the NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 photocatalyst was researched via the photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran in wastewater under sunlight irradiation. The sunlight illumination time, NaNbO 3 and Sn 3 O 4 mole ratio, cycle number and pesticides types as influence factors on the photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Z-scheme NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 photocatalyst are investigated in detail. The possible mechanism and degradation pathways for the photocatalytic degradation of carbofuran caused by Z-scheme NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 photocatalyst under sunlight irradiation are put forward. The research results show that the all-solid-state Z-scheme NaNbO 3 -Au-Sn 3 O 4 photocatalyst displays a wonderful activity for degradation of carbofuran in wastewater.