Construction of FeOCl/BiVO4 Photoanode for Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Levofloxacin via PMS Activation

In this study, a BiVO 4 photoanode was prepared via electrodeposition, and FeOCl was subsequently loaded onto its surface by calcination to construct a novel n–n type FeOCl/BiVO 4 heterojunction photoanode with a S-scheme charge transfer pathway. Using levofloxacin (LVF) as the target pollutant, the photoelectrocatalytic performance of various photoanodes was systematically evaluated. Under an applied bias of 0.6   V and 0.075   mM PMS, the FeOCl/BiVO 4 photoanode achieved a 79% LVF removal efficiency within 30   minutes, representing a 39% enhancement over pristine BiVO 4 , along with significant mineralization capacity. The addition of PMS notably improved the degradation performance. Photoelectrochemical analyses revealed that FeOCl suppressed charge recombination and enhanced PEC activity. Scavenger experiments demonstrated that hydroxyl radicals (·OH), superoxide radicals (·O 2 − ), sulfate radicals (SO 4 · − ), and photogenerated holes ( h + ) all contributed to the pollutant degradation. Furthermore, pH adaptability, anion interference, and cyclic stability tests demonstrated the photoanode’s broad pH tolerance, excellent anti-interference ability, and good reusability. Notably, the FeOCl/BiVO 4 photoanode also exhibited effective degradation of other typical organic pollutants, such as tetracycline, carbamazepine, and ciprofloxacin, highlighting its promising application potential.