A synergistic photocatalysis and Fenton-like degradation system for efficient removal of tetracycline with Z-scheme MIL-88@CuS heterojunction

Construction of a novel Z-scheme MIL-88@CuS heterojunction that couples photocatalysis with a Fenton-like reaction system. • MIL-88@CuS achieves synchronous photocatalysis/Fenton-like synergistic degradation of tetracycline. • The Z-scheme mechanism and built-in electric field significantly promote charge separation and interfacial electron transfer. • Effectively accelerate the redox cycle of Cu(II)/Cu(I), continuously generating highly active OH free radicals. • Achieves 93% tetracycline degradation within 60 min under visible light, with significantly enhanced performance. The widespread discharge of antibiotic residues into natural water environment have become a new water pollution problem, posing significant risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. Herein, we report the utilization of a Z -scheme MIL-88@CuS nanocomposite that functions as a synergistic photocatalysis-Fenton-like system for the degradation of tetracycline antibiotics (TC). Mechanistic investigations reveal that the built-in electric field and Z-scheme electron transfer channel in MIL-88@CuS greatly facilitates charge separation and accelerates electron transfer to the CuS surface, thus boosting Cu(II)/Cu(I) circulation and producing more active hydroxyl radical (·OH) for TC oxidation degradation. As a result, the as-prepared MIL-88@CuS exhibits excellent photocatalytic TC degradation activity with the removal efficiency of 93% in 30 min under visible-light irradiation, much higher than that of simple MIL-88 or CuS samples. This work may provide an efficient and low-cost strategy for the remediation of antibiotic-contaminated water. Herein, we report a Z -scheme MIL-88@CuS nanocomposite as the synchronous photocatalysis-Fenton-like system to eliminate TC, which can accelerate the one-electron redox cycle of Cu(II)/Cu(I) and produce more active ·OH radicals for efficiently TC degradation. Download: Download high-res image (144KB) Download: Download full-size image