Rational Construction of Chemically Functionalized g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 Ternary Heterojunction Beads for Tetracycline Degradation Via PMS Activation

Abstract

The sustainable development of visible-light-driven photocatalysts with exceptional efficiency is an effective strategy to address the global environmental and energy crisis. The ternary g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 was prepared using a hydrothermal strategy and was immobilized to form hydrogels using alginate as the base substrate. Thus, g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 alginate hydrogel beads were prepared via an effective cross-linking strategy. The characterization studies affirmed the uniform incorporation of the ternary heterojunction on the alginate framework belonging to the hydrogel photocatalyst. The photocatalytic experimental studies reported that the g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 alginate hydrogel beads demonstrated 84 % tetracycline degradation in 40 minutes of visible light irradiation. The construction of g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 alginate hydrogel beads makes the recovery process easier and extends its maximum reusability to 6 cycles. The outstanding photocatalytic efficiency is indicated by the strengthened visible light activity and tuned band gap of the photocatalyst. The efficient construction of the ternary junction facilitated the separation of electron-hole pairs and inhibited the recombination ratio effectively. Thus, g-C3N4/Bi2S3/CeO2 alginate hydrogel beads can emerge as an efficient and sustainable photocatalyst.