Rational design of 1D TaON nano-fibrous network decorated 2D BiOBr nanosheets for sustainable photocatalytic detoxification of antibiotics in wastewater via S-scheme heterostructure system

The construction of photostable heterostructures with improved photoactivity is still a big challenge that needs to be overcome. Herein, novel porous 1D TaON nanofibers decorated with 2D BiOBr nanosheets were prepared via the electrospinning route in a core-shell heterostructure. The TaON/BiOBr S-scheme heterojunction reflects outstanding photoreaction by removing 93 % of tetracycline in 70 min of visible light radiation with a powerful reaction rate of 0.03205 min−1, which is approximately 2.55 and 2.97 folds faster than TaON and BiOBr, respectively. Beyond that, TaON/BiOBr uncloses exceptional photoreaction activity against norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and enrofloxacin with removal efficiencies of 78 %, 82 %, 88 %, and 74 % within 70 min, respectively, suggesting the comprehensive ability of the binary TaON/BiOBr to eliminate different types of pharmaceutical antibiotics. The impacts of some environmental conditions, photostability studies, and the degradation pathway of tetracycline were perfectly clarified. The trapping tests manifested the main contributions of O2− and OH as well as the assistance role of h+ in the tetracycline oxidation over TaON/BiOBr. The catalytic mechanism revealed reliable transportation of photo-carriers in the S-scheme path with favorable dissociation efficiency. This study presents a guideline for the development of a unique TaON-based heterojunction with boosted catalytic performance to resolve environmental issues.