High-efficiency pollutant degradation, disinfection and H2O2 production activities of magnetically separable Co-imbedded N-doped carbonaceous framework/supramolecular perylene diimide photocatalyst

Herein, a magnetically separable Co-imbedded N-doped carbonaceous framework (Co-N-C)/supramolecular perylene diimide (SA-PDI) photocatalyst was prepared via an in-situ self-assembly approach. The one-dimensional (1D) SA-PDI nanofibers could sufficiently contact with the three-dimensional (3D) ZIF-67 derived porous carbon framework of Co-N-C, forming a 3D/1D heterostructure via π-π interaction and hydrogen bonding. Stable 3D porous structure, high surface area, superior conductivity and strong magnetism of Co-N-C could work as a multifunctional co-catalyst to extend the spectral-response range, increase the adsorption capacity, accelerate the charge separation efficiency and improve the recycling ability of SA-PDI. Compared to SA-PDI, Co-N-C/SA-PDI photocatalyst displayed significantly improved pollutant degradation, H2O2 production and disinfection activities under visible light on account of the satisfactory synergetic action between Co-N-C and SA-PDI. The degradation rates of Co-N-C/SA-PDI-70% for phenol, norfloxacin and ethylene were about 4.7, 5.2 and 3.1 times as fast as those of SA-PDI, respectively. The H2O2 generation of Co-N-C/SA-PDI-70% (894 µmol L−1 g−1) was nearly 3.5 times as that of SA-PDI. Additionally, Co-N-C/SA-PDI-70% could kill 88.0% of Staphylococcus aureus cells within 2 h, whereas SA-PDI only inactivated 53.1%. The study provides a novel strategy to design high-efficiency SA-PDI-based photocatalysts for energy conversion and environmental remediation.