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Research Article

A study on singlet oxygen generation for tetracycline degradation via modulating the size of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticle anchored on g-C3N4 nanotube photocatalyst

Hongjie Zhu1, Minghui Li2,3( ), Luning Zou4, Youyou Hu3, Hongguo Hao1, Jianmin Dou1, Junjie Mao2( )
Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Energy Storage and Novel Cell Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
Gaotang liguo chemical plant, Liaocheng 252059, China
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Graphical Abstract

This study successfully proposed a new approach to promoting the production of 1O2 by modulating nanoparticle size, which enables α-Fe2O3@g-C3N4 nanotube (CNNT) as an effective photocatalyst for tetracycline degradation.

Abstract

Photocatalysis is considered as an effective technique for mitigating ecological risks posed by residual tetracycline (TC). To improve the efficiency of this technique, it is necessary to enable photocatalysts to produce highly reactive species, such as singlet oxygen (1O2). However, due to the high activation energy of 1O2, photocatalysts can hardly produce 1O2 without assistance from external oxidants. Herein, we find that the size-reduced α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (~ 4 nm) that anchored on g-C3N4 nanotube (α-Fe2O3@CNNT) can spontaneously generate 1O2 for degradation of TC. In comparison, only hydroxyl radical (·OH) can be produced by g-C3N4 nanotube loaded with ~ 14 nm α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3/CNNT). Owing to the high reactivity of the 1O2 species, the photocatalytic degradation rate (Kapp) of TC with α-Fe2O3@CNNT (0.056 min−1) was 1.8 times higher than that of α-Fe2O3/CNNT. The experimental results and theoretical calculations suggested that reducing the size of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles anchored on g-C3N4 nanotube decreased the surface electron density of α-Fe2O3, which induces the generation of high-valent Fe(IV) active sites over α-Fe2O3@CNNT and turns the degradation pathway into a unique 1O2 dominated process. This study provides a new insight on the generation of 1O2 for effective degradation of environmental pollutant.

Keywords

singlet oxygendegradation pathwayhigh-valent Fe(IV)tetracycline degradation

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Nano Research
Volume 16 Issue 2,
February 2023
Pages 2236-2244
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-5015-x
Cite this article:
Zhu H, Li M, Zou L, et al. A study on singlet oxygen generation for tetracycline degradation via modulating the size of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticle anchored on g-C3N4 nanotube photocatalyst. Nano Research, 2023, 16(2): 2236-2244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-5015-x
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Received: 06 August 2022
Revised: 02 September 2022
Accepted: 03 September 2022
Published: 11 October 2022
© Tsinghua University Press 2022
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