Construction of a visible-light-driven p-BNMF/TiO2 composite photocatalyst for effective ofloxacin contaminant removal

Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic contaminants in water has been a focal point of research efforts. However, the effectiveness of photocatalysis largely hinges on the choice of catalyst. In this study, we synthesized a series of p-BNMF/TiO2 (TBN) heterojunction catalysts via a novel fluoride-free method, which exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity. The results indicate that the most effective sample, TBN-8, achieved an impressive 99.8% removal of ofloxacin (OFL) when exposed to visible light, demonstrating a photocatalytic rate 2.9 times higher than that of the pristine TiO2. Complementing our experimental findings, density functional theory (DFT) calculations highlighted the role of the n-n heterojunction between p-BNMF and TiO2 in enhancing carrier separation and OFL molecule activation. In conjunction with an analysis of degradation intermediates, our study provides valuable insights into the specific processes and micro-mechanisms governing the photo-catalytic degradation of OFL. This research introduces a novel perspective for the development of innovative heterojunction catalysts and advances our understanding of sustainable and efficient photocatalytic systems.