Novel CoAl-LDH/g-C3N4/RGO ternary heterojunction with notable 2D/2D/2D configuration for highly efficient visible-light-induced photocatalytic elimination of dye and antibiotic pollutants

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of the N-rGO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite for efficient solar-driven water remediation

This paper describes the synthesis and analysis of a photocatalyst made from a combination of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) through a simple hydrothermal process. The effectiveness of the N-rGO/g-C3N4 heterostructure in photocatalysis was examined by studying the breakdown of different types of organic pollutants, such as cationic and anionic dyes, as well as antibiotics, under simulated solar light irradiation. Due to the presence of Schottky junctions formed between rGO and g-C3N4, the electron transfer process is significantly enhanced, leading to a reduction in the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. As a result, the photocatalytic activity of the rGO/g-C3N4 photocatalyst is significantly higher compared to that of g-C3N4 alone. The photocatalytic performance was further augmented through the nitrogen doping of rGO, which led to an increase in conductivity due to electron doping and an enhancement in the charge separation process. The heterojunction of rGO/g-C3N4 with an optimum concentration of 60% rGO attained a degradation efficiency of 98.7% for rhodamine B (RhB) dye after 50 minutes of light irradiation. In comparison, the nitrogen-doped photocatalyst (N-rGO/g-C3N4) achieved a photodegradation efficiency of 99.99% within 30 minutes. The reaction rate constant of the N-rGO/g-C3N4 nanocomposite was found to be 0.11 min-1 using pseudo first-order rate kinetics. This value is about 16 times more than that of pure g-C3N4 (0.007 min-1) for the degradation of rhodamine B. Additionally, N-rGO/g-C3N4 effectively degraded various contaminants, such as methylene blue, methyl orange, and tetracycline hydrochloride. The paper also addresses the photocatalytic mechanism, which entails the facilitated movement of electrons and holes produced by light, owing to the alignment of energy bands at the interface of the N-rGO/g-C3N4 heterojunction. These findings contribute to the advancement of a metal-free and porous photocatalyst that is highly interconnected and can be used for waste water treatment and environmental remediation.

Progress in layered double hydroxides (LDHs): Synthesis and application in adsorption, catalysis and photoreduction

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs), also known as anionic clays, have attracted significant attention in energy and environmental applications due to their exceptional physicochemical properties. These materials possess a unique structure with surface hydroxyl groups, tunable properties, and high stability, making them highly desirable. In this review, the synthesis and functionalization of LDHs have been explored including co-precipitation and hydrothermal methods. Furthermore, extensive research on LDH application in toxic pollutant removal has shown that modifying or functionalizing LDHs using materials such as activated carbon, polymers, and inorganics is crucial for achieving efficient pollutant adsorption, improved cyclic performance, as well as effective catalytic oxidation of organics and photoreduction. This study offers a comprehensive overview of the progress made in the field of LDHs and LDH-based composites for water and wastewater treatment. It critically discusses and explains both direct and indirect synthesis and modification techniques, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, this review critically discusses and explains the potential of LDH-based composites as absorbents. Importantly, it focuses on the capability of LDH and LDH-based composites in heterogeneous catalysis, including the Fenton reaction, Fenton-like reactions, photocatalysis, and photoreduction, for the removal of organic dyes, organic micropollutants, and heavy metals. The mechanisms involved in pollutant removal, such as adsorption, electrostatic interaction, complexation, and degradation, are thoroughly explained. Finally, this study outlines future research directions in the field.

2D/2D Bi2MoO6/CoAl LDH S-scheme heterojunction for enhanced removal of tetracycline: Performance, toxicity, and mechanism

In this paper, the two-dimensional (2D) layered CoAl LDH (CoAl) was coupled with Bi2MoO6 (BMO) nanoplate and used for tetracycline (TC) degradation. Based on the results of UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectrum (UV-vis DRS), Motty-Schottky curves, and in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), a novel 2D/2D Bi2MoO6/CoAl LDH S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst was built. The photodegradation rate constant of TC by the optimized sample BMO/CoAl30 was 3.637 × 10-2 min-1, which was 1.26 times and 4.01 times higher than that of Bi2MoO6 and CoAl LDH, respectively. The favorable photocatalytic performance of the heterojunction was attributed to the increased interfacial contact area of the 2D/2D structure. Besides, the transfer of photogenerated electrons from Bi2MoO6 to CoAl LDH under the effect of the built-in electric field (BIEF) reduced the recombination of photogenerated carriers and further improved the photocatalytic performance. The reactive species of h+, ·O2-, and 1O2 exhibited critical roles to degrade TC molecules by reactive radicals capture experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) tests. The intermediate products of TC degradation and toxicity of intermediates were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) and Toxicity Estimation Software Tool (T.E.S.T). Additionally, the BMO/CoAl composite photocatalysts showed high stability and environmental tolerance during the testing of cycles and environmental impacts with various water sources, organic contaminants, initial pH, and inorganic ions. This work provides a new protocol for designing and constructing novel 2D/2D S-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye Using a Highly Efficient Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N4@Ag3PO4 Nanocomposite

The issue of water resource pollution resulting from the discharge of dyes is a matter of great concern for the environment. In this investigation, a new ternary heterogeneous Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N4X@Ag3PO4Y (X = wt % of g-C3N4 with respect to Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) and Y = wt % of Ag3PO4 loaded on Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N430) nanocomposite was prepared with the aim of increasing charge carrier separation and enhancement of photocatalytic performance to degrade methylene blue (MB) dye. The prepared samples were subjected to characterization via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and photoelectrochemical analysis. It was observed that in the presence of the composite of Mg-Al LDH and g-C3N4, the photocatalytic decomposition of MB under 150 W mercury lamp illumination increases significantly as opposed to Mg-Al LDH alone, and the Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N4 level with Ag3PO4 coating causes the complete degradation of MB to occur in less time. The outcomes show that the Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N430@Ag3PO45 nanocomposite demonstrated the highest photodegradation activity (99%). Scavenger tests showed that the two most effective agents in the photodegradation of MB are holes and hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Finally, a type II heterojunction photocatalytic degradation mechanism for MB by Mg-Al LDH@g-C3N430@Ag3PO45 was proposed.

Recent Advances in LDH/g-C3N4 Heterojunction Photocatalysts for Organic Pollutant Removal

Environmental pollution has been decreased by using photocatalytic technology in conjunction with solar energy. An efficient method to obtain highly efficient photocatalysts is to build heterojunction photocatalysts by combining graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with layered double hydroxides (LDHs). In this review, recent developments in LDH/g-C3N4 heterojunctions and their applications for organic pollutant removal are systematically exhibited. The advantages of LDH/g-C3N4 heterojunction are first summarized to provide some overall understanding of them. Then, a variety of approaches to successfully assembling LDH and g-C3N4 are simply illustrated. Last but not least, certain unmet research needs for the LDH/g-C3N4 heterojunction are suggested. This review can provide some new insights for the development of high-performance LDH/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts. It is indisputable that the LDH/g-C3N4 heterojunctions can serve as high-performance photocatalysts to make new progress in organic pollutant removal.

Nano-sized aggregate Ti3C2-TiO2 supported on the surface of Ag2NCN as a Z-scheme catalyst with enhanced visible light photocatalytic performance

Exposing the photocatalyst's highly active facets and hybridizing the photocatalyst with suitable cocatalysts in the proper spot have been recognized as strong methods for high-performance photocatalysts. Herein, Ag2NCN/TiO2-Ti3C2 composites were synthesized by applying simple calcination and physically weak interaction deposition processes to obtain an excellent photocatalyst for Rhodamine B (Rh B) degradation when exposed to visible light. The findings from the experiments reveal that the Ag2NCN/TiO2-Ti3C2400 composite exhibited an outstanding photocatalytic rate in 80 min, with the highest Rh B degradation rate (k = 0.03889 min-1), which was 16 times higher than that of pure Ag2NCN (k = 0.00235 min-1) and 2.2 times higher than that of TiO2-Ti3C2400 (k = 0.01761 min-1). The results from the following factors: (i) the powerful interfacial contact created by the in situ formation of TiO2, and the superior electrical conductivity of Ti3C2 that makes carrier separation possible; (ii) TiO2 with electron-rich (101) facets are deposited on the surface of Ag2NCN, significantly reducing charge carrier recombination by trapping photoelectrons; (iii) a Z-type heterojunction is constructed between nanosize aggregate Ti3C2-TiO2 and Ag2NCN with non-metal Ti3C2 as the solid medium, improving the transfer and separation of photogenerated charges and inhibiting the recombination of electrons and holes. Additionally, the redox ability of the composite photocatalyst is enhanced. Furthermore, the analyses of active species showed that photogenerated superoxide radicals and holes were the principal active agents inside the photodegradation of Rh B. Moreover, the composite exhibited outstanding photo-stability.

A dual Z-scheme heterojunction Cu-CuTCPP/Cu2O/CoAl-LDH for photocatalytic CO2 reduction to C1 and C2 products

In this research, a ternary Cu-CuTCPP/Cu2O/CoAl-LDH composite with a dual Z-scheme heterostructure was fabricated based on a Cu2O photocatalyst and applied in photocatalytic CO2 reduction. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts and the possible reaction mechanism in CO2 reduction were analyzed and studied by various characterization methods. The activity of CO2 reduction significantly increased, especially forming C2 products. The optimal yield of C2H4 and C2H6 reached 1.56 and 1.92 μmol g-1 h-1 respectively, which was 14.45 and 17.45 times that from using the Cu2O monomer. In addition, the selectivity of C2 products reached 37.4%. The satisfactory C2 yield was mainly due to the fact that Cu1+δ2(COO)3 nodes in Cu-CuTCPP contained adjacent Cu sites, which effectively promoted the C-C coupling reaction. Moreover, the dual Z-scheme heterojunction stimulated the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and diminished the recombination rate. This work contributes to the development of novel photocatalysts with a dual Z-scheme heterojunction and facilitates the generation of valuable C2 products.

Remediation of Cu and As contaminated water and soil utilizing biochar supported layered double hydroxide: Mechanisms and soil environment altering

Preparing materials for simultaneous remediation of anionic and cationic heavy metals contamination has always been the focus of research. Herein a biochar supported FeMnMg layered double hydroxide (LDH) composites (LB) for simultaneous remediation of copper and arsenic contamination in water and soil has been assembled by a facile co-precipitation approach. Both adsorption isotherm and kinetics studies of heavy metals removal by LB were applied to look into the adsorption performance of adsorbents in water. Moreover, the adsorption mechanisms of Cu and As by LB were investigated, showing that Cu in aqueous solution was removed by the isomorphic substitution, precipitation and electrostatic adsorption while As was removed by complexation. In addition, the availability of Cu and As in the soil incubation experiments was reduced by 35.54%-63.00% and 8.39%-29.04%, respectively by using LB. Meanwhile, the addition of LB increased the activities of urease and sucrase by 93.78%-374.35% and 84.35%-520.04%, respectively, of which 1% of the dosage was the best. A phenomenon was found that the richness and structure of microbial community became vigorous within 1% dosage of LB, which indirectly enhanced the passivation and stabilization of heavy metals. These results indicated that the soil environment was significantly improved by LB. This research demonstrates that LB would be an imaginably forceful material for the remediation of anionic and cationic heavy metals in contaminated water and soil.

Construction of a novel S-scheme heterojunction piezoelectric photocatalyst V-BiOIO3/FTCN and immobilization with floatability for tetracycline degradation

A high-performance piezoelectric photocatalyst (V-BiOIO₃/FTCN) was constructed to improve removal efficiency of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The role of V-BiOIO₃ in the composite was to introduce piezoelectric effect and construct S-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst with fish scale tubular carbon nitride (FTCN). The morphology, structure, chemical composition and optoelectronic characteristics of the as-prepared photocatalysts were studied by SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS and UV-Vis DRS. Combined with UV-Vis DRS, XPS valence band, Mott-schottky curve and theoretical calculations, the mechanism of TCH degradation was deeply analyzed. A series of degradation experiments showed that the V-BiOIO₃/FTCN could effectively degrade TCH, and the removal efficiency was further improved under the action of ultrasound. Importantly, the further immobilized V-BiOIO₃/FTCN/MS could float on the water surface to degrade TCH without additional stirring, which facilitated the recovery of photocatalysts and showed excellent practical application value. This work provided a reference for the design and immobilization of carbon nitride-based piezoelectric photocatalysts.

Facile fabrication of a 2D/2D CoFe-LDH/g-C3N4 nanocomposite with enhanced photocatalytic tetracycline degradation

The widespread use of tetracycline (TC) in medicine and agriculture has caused severe pollution problems in the environment. In this work, a nanocomposite comprising of CoFe-layered double hydroxides grown on graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (CoFe-LDH/g-C₃N₄) with a notable two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) heterostructure was synthesized through a facile co-precipitation method. The CoFe-LDH/g-C₃N₄ nanocomposite displayed significantly improved visible-light-driven photocatalytic activity towards TC degradation, compared to pristine g-C₃N₄ and CoFe-LDH alone. The enhanced activation efficiency was a result of intimate interfacial contact, enlarged the surface area, broadened visible-light absorbance, and enhanced photogenerated electron transfer. The scavenging experiments showed that holes (h⁺) and superoxide radical anions (‧O₂^-) played a crucial role in TC degradation. Factors including the type of TCs, initial concentration of TC, presence of ions, and the type of water matrix were investigated to evaluate the practical feasibility of the nanocomposites for TC removal from antibiotics-contaminated water. The repeated tests showed that the nanocomposites possessed good stability and recyclability. This study demonstrated the feasibility of achieving photocatalytic activity enhancement of g-C₃N₄ through the formation of a 2D-2D heterostructure between LDHs and g-C₃N₄.

Synthesis of visible light responsive ZnCoFe layered double hydroxide towards enhanced photocatalytic activity in water treatment

In this study, a ternary layered double hydroxide containing Zn, Co, and Fe transition metals (ZnCoFe LDH) was developed using a co-precipitation procedure. The as-synthesized photocatalyst was evaluated for its performance in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. The effects of various process conditions including photocatalyst dosage, pollutant concentration, pH, lamp distance, and lamp power were investigated. The ZnCoFe LDH achieved approximately 74% photodegradation efficiency owing to the narrow bandgap of 2.14 eV. The Langmuir-Hinselwood rate constants were calculated as 1.17 min^-1 and 3.55 min^-1 for photolysis by LED lamp alone and for photocatalysis by LED/ZnCoFe LDH, respectively. The photocatalytic ability of the LDH was attributed to the generation of radical species like ^•OH and O₂^•-. The photocatalytic degradation intermediates of MB were determined by GC-MS analysis. The catalyst retained its performance throughout seven reuse cycles with only a 4.17% reduction in removal efficiency. The energy per order E_EO of the ZnCoFe/LED process in 180 min treatment time was determined as 5.41 kWh.m^-3. order^-1. This study shows that ZnCoFe LDH has sufficient activity and photostability for long-term application in photocatalytic water treatment.

Nanoarchitecture of graphene nanosheets decorated with NiCr layered double hydroxide for sonophotocatalytic degradation of refractory antibiotics

Highly efficient and durable catalysts for wastewater treatment are urgently required to tackle critical environmental issues. In this regard, NiCr LDH (NC), NiCr LDH-GO (NC-GO), and NiCr LDH-rGO (NC-rGO) nanocomposites were synthesized. The results of XRD, EDX, and FTIR analyses not only explored the crystallographic and chemical structures of catalysts but also confirmed the successful synthesis. Further morphological, physical, chemical, and optical characteristics of the catalysts were evaluated more by SEM, HRTEM, BET, DRS, and XPS techniques. The as-synthesized catalysts were used for the efficient mineralization of rifadin under 50 W LED visible light irradiation and the ultrasonic power of 150 W. Amongst, 0.75 g L^-1 of NC-rGO demonstrated high sonophotocatalytic efficiency (88%) in natural pH (pH = 8) of 15 mg L^-1 of rifadin. The introduced system is also powerful for the decontamination of pharmaceutical-containing wastewater as well as other refractory antibiotics. Moreover, the radical trapping experiments demonstrated that the main reactive species involved in the degradation of rifadin are ^•OH, h⁺, and O₂^•-. The possible intermediates were thoroughly investigated using GCMS analysis. Also, NC-rGO demonstrated superior antibacterial activity in comparison with NC, NC-GO samples.

Construction of Highly Active Zn3In2S6 (110)/g-C3N4 System by Low Temperature Solvothermal for Efficient Degradation of Tetracycline under Visible Light

Herein, Zn3In2S6 photocatalyst with (110) exposed facet was prepared by low temperature solvothermal method. On this basis, a highly efficient binary Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 was obtained by low temperature solvothermal method and applied to the degradation of tetracycline (TC). The samples of the preparation were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, UV–vis diffuse reflection spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Furthermore, the degradation performance of photocatalysts on TC was investigated under different experimental conditions. Finally, the mechanism of Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 composite material degrading TC is discussed. The results show that Zn3In2S6 and Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 photocatalysts with excellent performance could be successfully prepared at lower temperature. The Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalyst could significantly improve the photocatalytic activity compared with g-C3N4. After 150 min of illumination, the efficiency of 80%Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 to degrade TC was 1.35 times that of g-C3N4. The improvement of photocatalytic activity was due to the formation of Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 heterojunction, which promoted the transfer of photogenerated electron–holes. The cycle experiment test confirmed that Zn3In2S6/g-C3N4 composite material had excellent stability. The free radical capture experiment showed that ·O2− was the primary active material. This study provides a new strategy for the preparation of photocatalysts with excellent performance at low temperature.

Degradation of tetracycline antibiotic utilizing light driven-activated oxone in the presence of g-C3N4/ZnFe LDH binary heterojunction nanocomposite

In the present study, a binary heterojunction nanocomposite composed of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) and Zn/Fe-contained layered double hydroxide (ZnFe LDH) was employed as heterogeneous catalyst for the decomposition of tetracycline (TC) antibiotic utilizing Oxone and UV light irradiation. The sole use of g-C₃N₄/ZnFe LDH as adsorbent led to the negligible elimination of TC. In addition, the sole use of Oxone or UV (photolysis) and even their combination were not effective enough to degrade the target pollutant, while the combined process of g-C₃N₄/ZnFe LDH/Oxone/photolysis revealed significantly enhanced (synergistic) degradation of TC (92.4% within 30 min). Indirect detection tests for the identification of free radical species indicated the major role of both hydroxyl (^•OH) and sulfate (SO₄^•-) radicals in the degradation of TC by the g-C₃N₄/ZnFe LDH/Oxone/photolysis system. The elimination of TC followed a pseudo-first order kinetic model. The complete degradation of TC (degradation efficiency of 100%) was achieved within the reaction time of 25 min when ultrasound (US) was applied as enhancing agent. Furthermore, the results of total organic carbon (TOC) analysis were used to exhibit progress in the mineralization of the pollutant. The bioassay results indicated the decreased toxicity of the process effluent toward microbial population of Escherichia coli after the treatment.

Hierarchical-Structured Pd Nanoclusters Catalysts x-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-T by the Captopril-Capped Pd Cluster Precursor Method for the Highly Efficient 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

Water-soluble captopril-capped atomically precise Pd nanoclusters (Pd₁₇Capt₈ NCs: 1.3 ± 0.5 nm) produced by a simple chemical reduction were supported on preprepared hybrid Co₃Al-layered double hydroxide/reduced graphene oxide (Co₃Al-LDH/rGO) by a pH-adjusted electrostatic adsorption strategy followed by proper calcinations, giving a series of novel catalysts x-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-T (x (Pd loading) = 0.09, 0.17, 0.43 wt % (ICP), T = 230, 250, 280, 300, 320 °C). The characterization results show that the as-obtained catalysts possess the hierarchical nanosheet array morphology. Pd NCs with a size of ∼1.3 to 1.8 nm are highly distributed at the edge sites of the CoAl(O) nanosheets. All of the x-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-T catalysts show superior catalytic efficiency for the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, particularly 0.17-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-300 possesses the highest performance with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 30 042 h^-1, which is the highest among the reported Pd-based catalysts so far. The superior activity of 0.17-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-300 can be owing to ultrafine Pd NCs with a clean surface, the strongest PdNCs-Co²⁺-OH(LDH)-rGO three-phase synergy, and the much improved adsorption of the substrate via π-π stacking upon nanosheet array morphology. Meanwhile, 0.17-PdNCs/CoAl(O)/rGO-300 exhibits excellent catalytic activities for various nitroarenes and anionic azo dyes as well as good reusability with the complete reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) within 90 s after 10 successive runs. The present work provides not only a simple and convenient strategy for the synthesis of clean, efficient, and environmentally friendly supported metal nanocluster catalysts but also a new idea for the efficient catalytic degradation of environmental pollutants.

Recent advances and challenges in 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts for solar fuels applications

Although photocatalytic technology has emerged as an effective means of alleviating the projected future fuel crisis by converting sunlight directly into chemical energy, no visible-light-driven, low-cost, and highly stable photocatalyst has been developed to date. Due to considerably higher interfacial contact with numerous reactive sites, effective charge transmission and separation ability, and strong redox potentials, the focus has now shifted to 2D/2D heterojunction systems, which have exhibited effective photocatalytic performance. The fundamentals of 2D/2D photocatalysis for different applications and the classification of 2D/2D materials are first explained in this paper, followed by strategies to improve the photocatalytic performance of various 2D/2D heterojunction systems. Following that, current breakthroughs in 2D/2D metal-based and metal-free heterojunction photocatalysts, as well as their applications for H₂ evolution via water splitting, CO₂ reduction, and N₂ fixation, are discussed. Finally, a brief overview of current constraints and predicted results for 2D/2D heterojunction systems is also presented. This paper lays out a strategy for developing efficient 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts and sophisticated technology for solar fuel applications in order to address the energy issue.

Phyto-mediated photocatalysis: a critical review of in-depth base to reactive radical generation for erythromycin degradation

Erythromycin (ERY), designated as a risk-prioritized macrolide antibiotic on the 2015 European Union watch list, is the third most commonly used antibiotic, most likely due to its ability to inhibit the protein. ERY has revealed record-high aquatic concentrations threatening the entire ecosystem and hence demands priority remedial measures. The inefficiency of various conventional ERY degradation methodologies opened up a gateway to advanced technologies. The conventional approach comprising of a chemically formulated, single photocatalyst has a major drawback of creating multiple environmental stresses. In this context, photocatalysis is grabbing tremendous attention as an efficient and cost-effective antibiotic treatment approach. Several studies have ascertained that ZnO, TiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and rGO nanoparticles possess remarkable pollution minimizing operational capabilities. Additionally, composites are found much more effective in antibiotic removal than single nanoparticles. In this review, an attempt has been made to provide a comprehensive baseline for efficient reactive radical production by a phyto-mediated composite kept under a certain source of irradiation. Considerable efforts have been directed towards the in-depth investigation of rGO-embedded, phyto-mediated ZnO/TiO₂/Fe₃O₄ photocatalyst fabrication for efficient ERY degradation, undergoing green photocatalysis. This detailed review provides photocatalytic nanocomposite individualities along with a hypothetical ERY degradation mechanism. It is assumed that derived information presented here will provoke innovative ideas for water purification incorporating green photocatalysis, initiating the construction of high-performance biogenic hierarchical nanocatalysts.

The Preparation of g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH Nanocomposites and Their Depollution Performances in Cement Mortars under UV-Visible Light

In this study, new organic-inorganic g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH nanocomposites were prepared and introduced to fabricate photocatalytic cement mortars by internal mixing, coating, and spraying. The photocatalytic depollution of both g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH and cement mortars was assessed by NOx degradation reaction under UV-visible light irradiation. The study results suggested that the degradation efficiency of g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH nanocomposites improved with an increase in g-C3N4 content. The g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH1.5 nanocomposite displayed the highest NOx degradation capacity, which was about 1.23 and 3.21 times that of pure g-C3N4 and CoAl-LDH, respectively. The photocatalytic cement mortars which were all fabricated using different approaches could effectively degrade the target pollutants and exhibited significant compatibility between g-C3N4/CoAl-LDH and cementitious substrate. Among them, the coated mortars showed strong resistance to laboratory-simulated wearing and abrasion with a small decrease in degradation rate.

Adsorption behaviors and mechanisms of Fe/Mg layered double hydroxide loaded on bentonite on Cd (II) and Pb (II) removal

In this study, FeMg-LDH loaded with bentonite (FeMg-LDH@bentonite) was prepared using the facile co-precipitating method in situ to remove heavy metals from water and then characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, BET, TGA, and XPS. Pb (II) and Cd (II) were selected as the representative heavy metals to evaluate the adsorption capability of the FeMg-LDH@bentonite. The batch adsorption method was adopted to test the effects of the contact time, pH, initial concentration, different cations, and temperatures. The kinetic study indicated that the adsorption of heavy metals onto FeMg-LDH@bentonite was well fitted by the pseudo-second-order method. Isotherms were effectively simulated based on the Langmuir model. The maximal adsorption capability of Cd (II) and Pb (II) can reach 510.2 mg/g and 1397.62 mg/g, exceeding those of conventional adsorbents. The adsorption mechanisms of FeMg-LDH@bentonite demonstrating that there may exist surface complexation, ion exchange, and chemical deposition between FeMg-LDH@bentonite and heavy metals. Moreover, FeMg-LDH@bentonite was found to have a promising application for practically treating wastewater with heavy metals and can be used for various environmental water pollution treatments. The material may be used for heavy metal contaminated soil in the future.

A Comprehensive Review of Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Carbon Composites as an Environmental Multifunctional Material for Wastewater Treatment

As is well known, hydrotalcite-like compounds, such as layered-double-hydroxide (LDH) materials, have shown great potential applications in many fields owing to their unique characteristics, including a higher anion exchange capacity, a structure memory effect, low costs, and remarkable recyclability. While the lower surface area and leaching of metal ions from LDH composites reduce the process efficiency of the catalyst, combining LDH materials with other materials can improve the surface properties of the composites and enhance the catalytic performance. Among organic compounds, carbon materials can be used as synergistic materials to overcome the defects of LDHs and provide better performance for environmental functional materials, including adsorption materials, electrode materials, photocatalytic materials, and separation materials. Therefore, this article comprehensively reviews recent works on the preparation and application of layered double-hydroxide-based carbon (LDH–C) composites as synergistic materials in the field of environmental remediation. In addition, their corresponding mechanisms are discussed in depth. Finally, some perspectives are proposed for further research directions on exploring efficient and low-cost clay composite materials.

Flame-Retardant PEDOT:PSS/LDHs/Leather Flexible Strain Sensor for Human Motion Detection

Flexible piezoresistive sensors have demonstrated great potential in human-motion-detection applications. However, it still remains a challenge to fabricate strain sensors with high sensitivity, broad sensing range and good linear response to strain. In this report, a simple and scalable fabrication strategy is developed to construct high performance strain sensors by using leather as the substrates to filtrate poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene ): : poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) modified layered double hydroxides (LDHs) suspensions. The naturally aligned collagen fibers in leather enable size selection for the 2-D conductive materials and as such dual-conductive pathways are effectively formed on the surface and in the matrix of leather. Due to the unique design of conductive networks, the prepared sensor possesses high gauge factor (maximum value of 2326.84), tunable strain range (0∼70%), fast tensile response time (160 ms), and good stability in 1000 stretching-relaxing/compression-relaxing cycles, making it suitable for various human motion detections including coughing and large-scale motions of joint bending. In addition, the incorporated LDHs is a non-toxic flame retardant, which is helpful to reduce electronic fire risk and can bring added value to the sensor. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Construction of Bi2WO6/CoAl-LDHs S-scheme heterojunction with efficient photo-Fenton-like catalytic performance: Experimental and theoretical studies

The photo-Fenton-like catalytic process has shown great application potential in environmental remediation. Herein, a novel photo-Fenton-like catalyst of Bi₂WO₆ nanosheets decorated hortensia-like CoAl-layered double hydroxides (Bi₂WO₆/CoAl-LDHs) was synthesized via hydrothermal process. The optimized Bi₂WO₆/CoAl-LDHs composite performed the high-efficiency photo-Fenton-like catalytic performance for oxytetracycline (OTC) removal (98.47%) in the mediation of visible-light and H₂O₂. The comparative experiment, technical characterization and density functional theory calculation results indicated that the efficient photo-Fenton-like catalytic performance of Bi₂WO₆/CoAl-LDHs was attributed to the synergistic action of the Fenton-like process of cobalt ions in CoAl-LDHs, an internal electric field and the S-scheme heterojunction form between Bi₂WO₆ and CoAl-LDHs, which could significantly promote the active substance formation and the photocatalytic process in the catalytic system. This study will stimulate the new inspiration of designing the efficient catalytic system for environmental remediation and other fields.

In situ synthesis of 2D/2D MXene-COF heterostructure anchored with Ag nanoparticles for enhancing Schottky photocatalytic antibacterial efficiency under visible light

It is a major challenge to combine the advantages of two kinds of two-dimensional materials to construct a heterojunction and achieve efficient photocatalytic antifouling. In this work, we covalently connected two materials MXenes and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) through the Schiff base reaction and anchored Ag nanoparticles (NPs) to prepare a Ti₃C₂/TpPa-1/Ag composite material with high efficiency bactericidal properties. The covalent bonding between MXene and COF greatly improved the stability of the material. Ti₃C₂/TpPa-1/Ag composite showed an excellent antibacterial property against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The fluorescence spectra of Ti₃C₂/TpPa-1/Ag proved that the electron transfer channels formed between the ternary materials could greatly improve the efficiency of carrier separation and prolong the life of photogenerated carriers. Density functional theory calculations showed that the synergistic catalytic effect of Ag and Ti₃C₂ could greatly reduce the work function along the interface, and the built-in electric field between the layers drive carrier fast migration, which effectively improve the catalytic performance.

2D/2D Heterojunction systems for the removal of organic pollutants: A review

Photocatalysis is considered to be an effective way to remove organic pollutants, but the key to photocatalysis is finding a high-efficiency and stable photocatalyst. 2D materials-based heterojunction has aroused widespread concerns in photocatalysis because of its merits in more active sites, adjustable band gaps and shorter charge transfer distance. Among various 2D heterojunction systems, 2D/2D heterojunction with a face-to-face contact interface is regarded as a highly promising photocatalyst. Due to the strong coupling interface in 2D/2D heterojunction, the separation and migration of photoexcited electron-hole pairs are facilitated, which enhances the photocatalytic performance. Thus, the design of 2D/2D heterojunction can become a potential model for expanding the application of photocatalysis in the removal of organic pollutants. Herein, in this review, we first summarize the fundamental principles, classification, and strategies for elevating photocatalytic performance. Then, the synthesis and application of the 2D/2D heterojunction system for the removal of organic pollutants are discussed. Finally, the challenges and perspectives in 2D/2D heterojunction photocatalysts and their application for removing organic pollutants are presented.

Construction of Chemically Bonded Interface of Organic/Inorganic g-C3N4/LDH Heterojunction for Z-Schematic Photocatalytic H2 Generation

The design and synthesis of a Z-schematic photocatalytic heterostructure with an intimate interface is of great significance for the migration and separation of photogenerated charge carriers, but still remains a challenge. Here, we developed an efficient Z-scheme organic/inorganic g-C3N4/LDH heterojunction by in situ growing of inorganic CoAl-LDH firmly on organic g-C3N4 nanosheet (NS). Benefiting from the two-dimensional (2D) morphology and the surface exposed pyridine-like nitrogen atoms, the g-C3N4 NS offers efficient trap sits to capture transition metal ions. As such, CoAl-LDH NS can be tightly attached onto the g-C3N4 NS, forming a strong interaction between CoAl-LDH and g-C3N4 via nitrogen-metal bonds. Moreover, the 2D/2D interface provides a high-speed channel for the interfacial charge transfer. As a result, the prepared heterojunction composite exhibits a greatly improved photocatalytic H2 evolution activity, as well as considerable stability. Under visible light irradiation of 4 h, the optimal H2 evolution rate reaches 1952.9 μmol g-1, which is 8.4 times of the bare g-C3N4 NS. The in situ construction of organic/inorganic heterojunction with a chemical-bonded interface may provide guidance for the designing of high-performance heterostructure photocatalysts.

Peroxymonosulfate activation through 2D/2D Z-scheme CoAl-LDH/BiOBr photocatalyst under visible light for ciprofloxacin degradation

The synergistic effect between photocatalytic and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation has been widely applied in the field of sewage treatment. In this work, we synthesized a two-dimensional/two-dimensional (2D/2D) CoAl-LDH/BiOBr Z-scheme photocatalyst via a simple method. Then, multiple detection results demonstrated that CoAl-LDH was successfully anchored onto BiOBr, as well as formed an intimate interaction. Moreover, the photocatalytic degradation performance of the catalysts/PMS/vis system had been explored under several conditions (e.g., different catalyst doses, PMS doses, anions and pollutants). The 8 wt% CoAl-LDH/BiOBr composite exhibited the highest degradation efficiency (96%) of ciprofloxacin (CIP). In addition, radicals quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) indicated that •O₂- and ¹O₂ were the primary radicals for CIP degradation. The photoelectrochemical measurement and photoluminescence (PL) confirmed that 8 wt% CoAl-LDH/BiOBr exhibited the highest separation and transfer rate of charge carriers. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS) analysis revealed that oxidation of the piperazine ring and defluorination were the main CIP degradation pathways. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, including the laplacian bond order (LBO) and Fukui index, which was consistent with the results of LC-MS. This study explained the superiority of the synergistic effect between photocatalysis and PMS activation on the degradation of pollutants.

Heterojunction photocatalysts for degradation of the tetracycline antibiotic: a review

Antibiotic pollution is a major health issue inducing antibiotic resistance and the inefficiency of actual drugs, thus calling for improved methods to clean water and wastewater. Here we review the recent development of heterojunction photocatalysis and application in degrading tetracycline. We discuss mechanisms for separating photogenerated electron-hole pairs in different heterojunction systems such as traditional, p-n, direct Z-scheme, step-scheme, Schottky, and surface heterojunction. Degradation pathways of tetracycline during photocatalysis are presented. We compare the efficiency of tetracycline removal by various heterojunctions using quantum efficiency, space time yield, and figures of merit. Implications for the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater are discussed.

Adsorptive removal and photocatalytic decomposition of cationic dyes on niobium oxide with deformed orthorhombic structure

Nano-rod-shaped niobium oxide with a deformed orthorhombic structure (ortho-Nb₂O₅) is first demonstrated as a selective adsorbent to remove cationic dyes wastewater. Ortho-Nb₂O₅ quickly adsorbs methylene blue (MB) with much greater capacity than reported inorganic adsorbents. Furthermore, ortho-Nb₂O₅ has a stronger affinity to cationic dye than anionic dye because cation exchange is involved in the adsorption process. The dye molecule adsorbed onto ortho-Nb₂O₅ can be degraded entirely under UV light irradiation because of its photocatalytic properties. Moreover, the regenerated ortho-Nb₂O₅ shows high reusability for use in additional adsorption processing. As described herein, new insights into the use of ortho-Nb₂O₅ as a photocatalytically regeneratable adsorbent for wastewater treatment are presented.

Remediation of Soil in a Deserted Arsenic Plant Site Using Synthesised MgAlFe-LDHs

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are promising soil contamination amendment agents for its efficient absorbing abilities. However, the application of LDHs in remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil are to be developed. In this study, we synthesized MgAlFe-LDHs by introducing Fe³⁺ into interlayer of the MgAl-LDHs using co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were employed to characterized the micro structure of MgAlFe-LDHs. And then pot incubation and pilot experiments were conducted to investigate the heavy metal removal efficiencies of MgAlFe-LDHs and its potential being applicated in As contaminated soil amendment from a deserted arsenic plant site. Incubation experiments showed that the MgAlFe-LDHs had a higher removal efficiency on arsenic contaminated soil compared to other agents. And the results of pilot experiments indicated that the MgAlFe-LDHs can immobilize up to 90% of the As in soil with 5% (w/w) addition. Based on the results above, MgAlFe-LDHs are promising materials amending the heavy metal contaminated soil with practical application value.

Layered double hydroxides and related hybrid materials for removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from water

Pharmaceuticals and their by-products are recalcitrant contaminants in water. Moreover, the high consumption of these drugs has many detrimental effects on body waters and ecosystems. In this timely review, the advances in molecular engineering of layered double hydroxides (LDH) that have been used for the removal of pharmaceutical pollutants are discussed. The approach starts from the strategies to obtain homogeneous synthesis of LDH that allow the doping and/or surface functionalization of different metals and oxides, producing heterojunction systems as well as composites with carbon and silica-based materials with high surface area. Adsorption is considered as a traditional removal of pharmaceutical pollutants, so the kinetic and mechanism of this phenomenon are analyzed based on pH, temperature, ionic strength, in order to obtain new insights for the formation of multifunctional LDH. Advanced oxidation methodologies, mainly heterogeneous photocatalysis and Fenton-like processes, stand out as the more efficient even to obtain the mineralization of the drugs. The LDH have the advantage of structural memory that favors regeneration processes. The reconstruction of calcined LDH can be used to improve drug removal, through a combination of adsorption capacity/catalytic activity. A meticulous analysis of the persistence, toxicity and bioaccumulation of the most common pharmaceuticals has allowed us to highlight the ability of the LDH to remove recalcitrant drugs at relatively low concentrations (ppm, ppb), in contrast to other mixed oxide nanostructures and homogeneous oxidation processes. In this sense, the mechanism of drug removal by LDH is discussed based on the importance of the use of composites, scavenger agents, Fenton and electro-Fenton processes, membranes, thin films and coatings, among others. In addition, the ecotoxicity of LDH is also reviewed to indicate that these layered structures can exhibit biocompatibility or high toxicity depending on the adsorbed drug and ions/metals that compose them. Undoubtedly, the LDH have a unique flexible structure with adsorption capacity and catalytic activity, facts that explain the important reasons for their extensive use in the environmental remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants from water.

The construction of a dual direct Z-scheme NiAl LDH/g-C3N4/Ag3PO4 nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic oxygen and hydrogen evolution

Dual direct Z-scheme photocatalysts for overall water decomposition have demonstrated strong redox abilities and the efficient separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Overall water splitting utilizing NiAl-LDH-based binary and ternary nanocomposites has been extensively investigated. The synthesized binary and ternary nanocomposites were characterized via XRD, FTIR, SEM, HRTEM, XPS, UV-DRS, and photoelectrochemical measurements. The surface wettability properties of the prepared nanocomposites were measured via contact angle measurements. The application of the NiAl-LDH/g-C3N4/Ag3PO4 ternary nanocomposite was investigated for photocatalytic overall water splitting under light irradiation. In this work, we found that in the presence of Ag3PO4, the evolution of H2 and O2 is high over LCN30, and 2.8- fold (O2) and 1.4-fold (H2) activity increases can be obtained compared with the use of LCN30 alone. It is proposed that Ag3PO4 is involved in the O2 evolution reaction during water oxidation and g-C3N4 is involved in overall water splitting. Our work not only reports overall water splitting using NiAl-LDH-based nanocomposites but it also provides experimental evidence for understanding the possible reaction process and the mechanism of photocatalytic water splitting. Photoelectrochemical measurements confirmed the better H2 and O2 evolution abilities of NiAl-LDH/g-C3N4/Ag3PO4 in comparison with NiAl LDH, g-C3N4, Ag3PO4, and LCN30. The observed improvement in the gas evolution properties of NiAl LDH in the presence of Ag3PO4 is due to the formation of a dual direct Z-scheme, which allows for the easier and faster separation of charge carriers. More importantly, the LCNAP5 heterostructure shows high levels of H2 and O2 evolution, which are significantly enhanced compared with LCN30 and pure NiAl LDH.

Recent advances in photodegradation of antibiotic residues in water

Antibiotics are widely present in the environment due to their extensive and long-term use in modern medicine. The presence and dispersal of these compounds in the environment lead to the dissemination of antibiotic residues, thereby seriously threatening human and ecosystem health. Thus, the effective management of antibiotic residues in water and the practical applications of the management methods are long-term matters of contention among academics. Particularly, photocatalysis has attracted extensive interest as it enables the treatment of antibiotic residues in an eco-friendly manner. Considerable progress has been achieved in the implementation of photocatalytic treatment of antibiotic residues in the past few years. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent developments on this important topic. This review primarily focuses on the application of photocatalysis as a promising solution for the efficient decomposition of antibiotic residues in water. Particular emphasis was laid on improvement and modification strategies, such as augmented light harvesting, improved charge separation, and strengthened interface interaction, all of which enable the design of powerful photocatalysts to enhance the photocatalytic removal of antibiotics.

Amperometric sensor based on ZIF/g-C3N4/RGO heterojunction nanocomposite for hydrazine detection

A dense  zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF) nanosheet is for the first time molded by reduced graphite oxide (RGO) and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) to fabricate an original 2D/2D/2D heterojunction (ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO nanohybrid), which is pipetted onto carbon cloth electrode (CCE) (ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO/CCE) as an electrochemical sensor. Profiting from the renowned synergistic and coupling effects, the resulting nanohybrid endows excellent electrocatalytic activity towards hydrazine. Amperometric detection reveals that the hybrid sensor possesses a low detection limit of 32 nM (S/N = 3) in a monitoring range of 0.0001 to 1.0386 mM, along with a high sensitivity 93.71 μA mM^-1 cm^-2. Importantly, the minimum detection concentration of hydrazine in the actual sample is lower than the maximum allowable limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) and has high reproducibility (RSD = 4.82%). As expected, the high sensing capability  of ZIF/g-C₃N₄/RGO combines the advantages of abundant surface-active sites and high conductivity along with 2D interfaces between ZIF, g-C₃N₄, and RGO nanosheets. This study provides a promising to expand 2D-based ternary nanojunction as a bridge for promoting sensing performance.Graphical abstract.

Simultaneous Gd2O3 clusters decoration and O-doping of g-C3N4 by solvothermal-polycondensation method for reinforced photocatalytic activity towards sulfamerazine

To improve the visible-light photocatalytic activity of graphitic carbon nitrate (g-C₃N₄) for practical application, a Gd₂O₃-cluster decorated O-doping g-C₃N₄ was fabricated via an ethanol assisted solvothermal-polycondensation method. The as-prepared photocatalysts, including bulk g-C₃N₄ (CN), O-doping g-C₃N₄ (HECN) and Gd₂O₃-cluster decorated O-doping g-C₃N₄ (HECN-xGd), were characterized and the paralleled experiments were conducted to evaluate the photocatalytic activity, mineralization capacity and mineralization mechanism, where sulfamerazine (SMR) was employed as the target pollutant. Furthermore, the quenching tests with scavengers were executed to analyze the contributions of the dominant active species, where the O₂^- was identified as a major role, and h⁺ as the minor role in the photodegradation of SMR. Results from the paralleled experiments suggested that the HECN-xGd possesses superior photocatalytic activity to HECN and CN, besides the feasible reusability through five cycles and impressive total organic carbon (TOC) removal about 60%. And the improved photocatalytic activity of HECN-xGd is ascribed mainly to the oxygen doping and Gd₂O₃ decoration. Herein, oxygen doping optimizes the structure of g-C₃N₄ and expands the light absorption range of HECN, and Gd₂O₃ facilitates the reduction of O₂ into O₂^-, and acts as the separator and transporter for the photo-induced charges.

Fabrication of a Cu2O-Au-TiO2 Heterostructure with Improved Photocatalytic Performance for the Abatement of Hazardous Toluene and α-Pinene Vapors

In the current research, a Cu2O-Au-TiO2 heterostructure was fabricated via a step-wise photodeposition route to determine its possible application in the photocatalytic oxidation of hazardous vapors. The results of electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the successful fabrication of the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 heterostructure. Strong absorption in the visible region, along with a slight red-shift in the absorption edge, was observed in the UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrum of Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite, which implies that the composite can generate a greater number of photoexcited charges necessary for photocatalytic reaction. Toluene and α-pinene, as common gas contaminants in the indoor atmosphere, were employed to assess the photooxidation efficiency of the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite. Importantly, photocatalytic activity results indicate that the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite showed excellent photodegradation performance compared to pure TiO2 and Cu2O-TiO2 and Au-TiO2, where photocatalytic efficiency was approximately 92.9% and 99.9% for toluene and α-pinene, respectively, under standard daylight illumination. The increased light-harvesting capacity and boosted separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs were mainly accountable for improved degradation performance of the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite. In addition, the degradation efficiencies for toluene and α-pinene by the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite were also examined under three different light sources: 0.32 W white, blue and violet LEDs. The findings of this work suggested a great promise of effective photooxidation of gas pollutants by the Cu2O-Au-TiO2 composite.