Constructing fast charge separation of ZnIn2S4 @CuCo2S4 p-n heterojunction for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen energy recovery from quinolone antibiotic wastewater

Dual-functional catalysts can realize effective photocatalysis for synergistic water remediation and H2 production by coupling reduction and oxidation reaction in one water-pollutant system. In this work, a novel ZnIn2S4 @CuCo2S4 nanoflower-like p-n heterojunction catalyst was successfully synthesized by a simple method and used for hydrogen generation from quinolone antibiotic wastewater. ZnIn2S4 @CuCo2S4 exhibited high hydrogen production activity of 0.36 mmol·g−1·h−1 in ofloxacin (OFL) solution. Simultaneously, the OFL removal efficiency and mineralization rate were up to 89.4 % and 92.24 %, respectively. The interface charge transfer mechanism was thoroughly investigated through systematic characterizations and DFT calculations. The results show that CuCo2S4 addition significantly improved the separation and transfer rate of photoinduced carriers. Additionally, the possible degradation pathways of OFL were analyzed using LC-MS. This study provides a new approach for simultaneous energy conversion and environmental pollution treatment, offering a new pathway for achieving sustainable energy development through the management of antibiotic wastewater.