Carbon dot-coupled BiVO4/reduced graphene hydrogel for significant enhancement of photocatalytic activity: Antibiotic degradation and CO2 reduction

Changchang Ma, Zhuohong Xie, Won Cheol Seo, Syed Taj Ud Din, Jeongwoo Lee, Youjoong Kim, Hyun Jung, Woochul Yang

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49 Scopus citations

Abstract

In this study, we fabricated a novel hybrid photocatalyst (CD-BVO/rGH) by coupling carbon dot (CD)-decorated BiVO4 (BVO) with a reduced graphene hydrogel (rGH). The CD-BVO/rGH photocatalyst significantly enhanced the photocatalytic efficiency for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) degradation compared with pure BVO and BVO/rGH under simulated solar irradiation. CD-BVO/rGH also showed a substantial performance in the photocatalytic reduction of CO2. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of CD-BVO/rGH is attributed to synergistic effects, such as better light energy utilization via the upconversion effects of the CDs and the enhanced migration and separation of photoexcited carriers by the three-dimensional (3D) network structure of the rGH. The systematic analysis of the band structure, electron spin resonance, and free radical trapping revealed that h+ and [rad]O2 mediate the final photocatalytic degradation of pollutants. Our results provide insight into the design and construction of highly efficient hybrid photocatalysts combined with functional carbon nanostructures to enhance the photocatalytic activity for the photodegradation of environmental pollutants and CO2 reduction.

Original languageEnglish
Article number150564
JournalApplied Surface Science
Volume565
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Nov 2021

Keywords

  • BiVO/reduced graphene hydrogel
  • Carbon dots
  • CO reduction
  • Photocatalysis
  • Tetracycline hydrochloride

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