چكيده به لاتين
The misuse of antibiotics leads to the presence of antibiotic residues in natural water sources, which not only harms ecosystems but also poses a threat to human health. To address this issue, the utilization of hydroxyl radicals (•OH) has emerged as a promising and environmentally friendly method for thorough water purification. Among the various techniques available, photoelectrochemical (PEC) degradation stands out as a clean and effective approach for generating a large quantity of •OH to treat pollutants efficiently. In this study, we propose a novel method for creating an efficient PEC system capable of producing robust •OH radicals. We achieved this by employing a photoanode-based electrophoretic deposition technique, where n-type protonated graphitic-carbon nitride nanosheets (p-g-C3N4-NSs) were deposited on anodized stainless-steel mesh (ASSM) coated with n-type Cu2O. Subsequently, the system was sensitized with polymeric quantum dots (pQDs) to enhance light harvesting, charge separation, and transfer, thereby improving the overall PEC performance. The physicochemical, optoelectronic, and band alignment properties of the prepared photoanode were confirmed using a range of characterization techniques, including XRD, FESEM, EDS, UV-Vis-DRS, PL, and photoelectrochemical experiments. These analyses demonstrated the suitability and capability of the photoanode to harness sustainable solar energy and generate enhanced •OH radicals for efficient degradation of tetracycline (TC) by 98.65%. The excellent photoabsorption and electron transfer properties of the PQDs were found to be crucial in enhancing the PEC activity of the as-prepared photoelectrode. This was achieved by enabling the S-scheme heterojunction to reduce electron-hole recombination and promote synergistic interfacial contact between the p-g-C3N4-NSs and Cu2O components. The results of mott Schottky, transient photocurrent, impedance spectroscopy, Langmuir Hinshelwood kinetic model, and scavenging experiments, along with optimization efforts, provided further evidence of the effectiveness of our approach. As a result, the developed reusable and stable nanostructures demonstrated an outstanding PEC tetracycline removal rate of 98.65%. within 100 minutes and achieved desirable mineralization with a total organic carbon (TOC) reduction of 50%. Furthermore, our system proved to be an efficient approach for remediating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater, contributing to sustainable environmental protection.
