0D/2D Co-doped Fe2O3/g-C3N4 Z-scheme heterojunction for efficient photo-Fenton organic pollutant removal

Owing to the low conversion efficiency of Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ during the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation process, the design of an efficient Fenton-like catalyst is still a challenge. In this work, 0D/2D Co-doped Fe 2 O 3 /g-C 3 N 4 (CNCFO) composite catalysts were constructed for organic pollutant degradation, where the Co-doping not only boosts the conversion efficiency of Fe 3+ to Fe 2+ , but also acts as active site for PMS activation. Among them, CNCFO2 showed excellent catalytic performance, where 96.4% of MO could be degraded within 45 s. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the cobalt doping promoted the cycle of Fe 3+ /Fe 2+ , which was responsible for the enhanced PMS activation. Meanwhile, the good stability and reusability of CNCFO2 itself provide opportunities for its potential practical applications. Based on systematical characterizations, the Z-scheme photo-Fenton mechanism was proposed. This study offers a fresh perspective on the advancement of designing highly efficient Fenton-like catalyst for applications in the field of environmental purification.