Simultaneous hydrogen production from wastewater degradation by protonated porous g-C₃N₄/BiVO₄ Z-scheme composite photocatalyst

Inspired by organic contaminants acting as sacrificial agents to accelerate the photocatalytic H-2 evolution, protonated porous g-C3N4/BiVO4 Z-scheme photocatalysts was prepared through simple one-step hydrothermal method for the degradation of ofloxacin (OFL) wastewater with simultaneously hydrogen production. The optimal g-C3N4/BiVO4 (HCN/BV-5) sample could degrade the OFL wastewater with a hydrogen yield of 80.7 mu mol center dot g(-1) center dot h(-1), demonstrating the potential in protonated porous g-C3N4/BiVO4 Z-scheme photocatalyst synchronous photocatalytic degradation antibiotic wastewater and hydrogen production. By carrying out the free radical quenching experiments and electron spin resonance experiments, it proved that the center dot OH and h+ radicals played the most positive roles in the simultaneous OFL antibiotic wastewater degradation and hydrogen production process. Meanwhile, the HCN/BV-5 also exhibited a significantly H-2 evolution performance in different real-world water bodies and universal applicability to the degradation of antibiotics wastewater. This work presents a new idea for alleviating current energy crisis and addressing environmental problems.