Synergistic effect of facet-regulated and photocatalytic-peroxymonosulfate activation of Fe(II)/decahedron monoclinic BiVO4 composites for efficient degradation of tetracycline

The efficient activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in advanced oxidation technology is hindered by the low Fe(II)→Fe(III)→Fe(II) cycle efficiency. Herein, we report a Fe(II)/decahedral monoclinic BiVO4 composite photocatalyst with a highly exposed (010) facet prepared by a hydrothermal method combined with a wet impregnation strategy. The numerous photogenerated electrons on the (010) facet promote the cycling of Fe(II)→Fe(III)→Fe(II) process, thereby significantly enhancing the PMS activation rate. The charge transfer mode of 1% Fe(II)/BiVO4 was inferred from in situ X-ray photoelectron spectra. The composite catalyst exhibits significantly higher activity (96.7%) than the pristine BiVO4 without facet regulation (56%). Controlling the crystal facets can effectively separate the photogenerated carriers of BiVO4; the photogenerated electrons catalyze the cyclic transformation of Fe(III)/Fe(II) to efficiently activate PMS and degrade antibiotics. This work confirms the synergistic effect of facet engineering and the photocatalytic PMS activation system and provides a new perspective for the degradation of antibiotics.