0D/2D Co-doped Fe2O3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient photo-Fenton organic pollutant removal

Owing to the low conversion efficiency of Fe3+ to Fe2+ during the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation process, the design of an efficient Fenton-like catalyst is still a challenge. In this work, 0D/2D Co-doped Fe2O3/g-C3N4 (CNCFO) composite catalysts were constructed for organic pollutant degradation, where the Co-doping not only boosts the conversion efficiency of Fe3+ to Fe2+, but also acts as active site for PMS activation. Among them, CNCFO2 showed excellent catalytic performance, where 96.4% of MO could be degraded within 45 s. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the cobalt doping promoted the cycle of Fe3+/Fe2+, which was responsible for the enhanced PMS activation. Meanwhile, the good stability and reusability of CNCFO2 itself provide opportunities for its potential practical applications. Based on systematical characterizations, the Zscheme photo-Fenton mechanism was proposed. This study offers a fresh perspective on the advancement of designing highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst for applications in the field of environmental purification.