Efficient PDS activation and carrier extraction by Gd2O3 decorated SrTiO3 for Fenton-like photocatalysis

To address the need for efficient catalysts that excel in persulfate (PDS) activation and carrier extraction, a gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ) modified strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ) photocatalyst has been devised for the photo-Fenton reaction, targeting the degradation of tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. This innovative photocatalyst harnesses the formation of a heterojunction between Gd 2 O 3 and SrTiO 3 , which dramatically enhances PDS activation and boosts carrier extraction efficiency by 6.8 times. Notably, it achieves approximately 90% degradation of tetracycline across various pH levels and approximately 80% degradation of ciprofloxacin under acidic and neutral conditions. Importantly, the photocatalytic treatment significantly mitigates the biotoxicity of the degraded antibiotics, emphasizing its environmental safety and efficacy. The underlying mechanisms of PDS activation and carrier transport have been rigorously verified through theoretical calculations, while the potential photocatalytic pathways and mechanisms of antibiotic degradation have been elucidated using Fukui function analysis and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This comprehensive approach underscores the photocatalyst’s potential for advanced environmental remediation applications.